A new documentary about Samoan tenor Pene Pati and his brother Amitai is set to premiere this weekend at the Sydney Film Festival. The film, titled Tenor: My Name is Pati, chronicles Pati's remarkable journey from a tiny, impoverished island in the South Pacific to the world's most prestigious opera stages.
From Humble Beginnings
Born on the island of Upolu in Samoa in 1987, Pene Pati remembers going to school without food. His parents, both nurses, moved the family to South Auckland when he was three years old in search of a better life. Despite their struggles, most of their earnings were sent back to family in Samoa. "When you are all going through the same struggle, it doesn't feel bad," Pati recalls.
From an early age, Pati and his siblings sang hymns and popular songs at a retirement home where their parents worked. For 15 years, every Friday night, they performed for four hours. "Often we were the last thing those people heard," he says.
Overcoming Doubters
As a young man, Pati faced repeated discouragement. A singing coach told him: "There are no Polynesian singers, no one has ever done it, it is not in your blood, you won't make it." Despite the hurt, Pati persevered. "You can either turn away or you can try to prove them wrong," he asserts.
His talent eventually won through. Conductor Marc Minkowski, upon first hearing Pati's voice, declared: "This is a Pavarotti rebirth." South African soprano Golda Schultz calls him "a beast of talent," while violinist and conductor Guilio d'Alessio labels him "one of the best singers of his generation already."
Family and Sacrifice
The documentary also explores Pati's relationship with his father, Pene Pati Sr., who could be tough. Pati says in the film: "There is a fine line between discipline and domestic violence." Yet he harbors no resentment. "I wanted him to see this and feel forgiven," Pati explains.
Pati's journey was marked by self-sacrifice. After winning the NZ Aria award in 2009, he formed the trio Sol3 Mio with his brother and cousin to raise funds for opera studies in Cardiff. When they had enough money, Pati put his brother, cousin, and girlfriend on the flight, staying behind himself. He lost funding as a result. Later, he turned down a prestigious fellowship at the San Francisco Opera to stay with the trio. Two years later, he auditioned again in San Francisco and succeeded.
A Voice of the Pacific
Pati's voice is described as having "the rich velvet voluptuousness" and "the warmth of the Pacific." He believes his success comes from the emotion in his voice. "People can feel the pain you have on stage, they can hear the love you have on stage," he says.
Despite his global success, Pati remains grounded. He still mows the lawn, washes dishes, and cooks when at the family home in Auckland. He is married to soprano Amina Edris, whom he met at a young artist program. They often perform separately, moving from hotel to hotel, but Pati finds his home on stage.
Premiere and Future
Tenor: My Name is Pati screens at the Sydney Film Festival on June 6 and 8, with a cinematic release on July 24. Pati and Edris will perform together in Manon at the Wellington Opera, though shows are already sold out. Pati says he performs partly to "clear the path for the next lot of Pacific singers who want to chase the dream without being mocked."
