Julien Van Mellaerts and Natasha Te Rupe Wilson are about to take the stage as part of Wellington Opera's production of Verdi's A Masked Ball.
The two young stars have both been mentored and supported by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and her Foundation.
Julian who is a baritone, was awarded the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation Laureate last year, and Natasha who is a soprano, was awarded the Dame Malvina Major Award in 2021.
Verdi's opera centres on a love triangle and a conspiracy against the governor of Boston, set against the backdrop of a masked ball.
