Excitement is building for the Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) annual Opera in Rarotonga event, featuring Pasifika and Māori singers, this weekend.

The event aims to curate a style of show that not only focuses on opera but also on “showcasing incredible voices”.

The concert will be held this Friday Saturday at Tamarind House Restaurant and Bar in Tupapa.

The BCI Opera in Rarotonga was initiated with a goal to promote confidence and self-belief through Pacific opera performances and outreach programmes. This year, their partnership aims to again nurture careers, enrich pride and inspire dreams among Polynesian and international audiences.

The Opera in Rarotonga line-up on Friday and Saturday includes Cook Islands very own tenor, Ridge Ponini, alongside Aotearoa New Zealand soprano Katherine Winitana and three of the four Samoan Fonoti-Fuimaono brothers from Hawke's Bay, tenor Jordan, baritone Faamanu and tenor Emmanuel.

Glenda Tuaine, director of Motone Productions, a Cook Islands creative production company managing the event, said: “As we know Pasifika has the opportunity to be able to lead in the area of vocal strength through kids going to church and just being able to have access to being able to sing. Out of this it’s about presenting a show that shows role models and rising talent of opera excellence.”

Tuaine says the BCI Opera in Rarotonga will bring together a beautiful compilation of Pacific talent showing their individual and collective skills.

Brothers Jordan and Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono, and soprano Katherine Winitana arrived in Rarotonga on Tuesday night.

Ridge Ponini and Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono are on their way from San Franciso where they have both just auditioned for the Merola Opera Programme, widely regarded as the foremost opera training programme for aspiring singers, coaches, accompanists and stage director.

Tuaine said the concert also speaks to the progression and the absolute traction that Pacific and Maori opera singers are having now globally.

“This concert is solely about being able to celebrate heritage, celebrate culture and share that with the audience on the lawn at Tamarind House,” said Tuaine.

Yesterday, the three opera singers on the island visited the Cook Islands Creative Centre where they performed powerful vocals delighting the students.

Danny Tixier, director of the Creative Centre, said they always welcomed special performing artists and shows to visit their centre and perform.

Motone Productions is about performing arts education and connecting to our community and through their partnerships they have been able to extend BCI Opera in Rarotonga Outreach to a series of masterclasses.

The Masterclass 2 programme will be held today from 3pm to 4.30pm at The Edgewater Resort and Masterclass 3 will be held at Club Raro at 5.30pm.

Tickets to the BCI Opera in Rarotonga can be purchased from www.goraro.com or call 76111. The concerts on Friday and Saturday will be held from 6pm to 9pm.