New Zealand-born Samoan tenor Ipu Laga'aia has been immersed in music his whole life. He studied classical voice at the University of Auckland and performed alongside Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at the gala for the theatre that now bears her name.
This year marks his professional role debut as Theseus, in New Zealand Opera's Australasian premiere of The Monster in the Maze. He is also a member of The Shades - a quartet of Tongan and Samoan voices who blend gospel, popular music, opera and Pacific Island culture in their performances.
Ipu is driven to share Opera with new audiences, and today on The Mixtape, he talks to Kara Rickard and shares personal songs that helped shape his life.
Photo: Ipu Laga'aia
