World’s biggest-selling opera debut act of 2014 at the Lowry
Concerts generally don’t come with a money-back guarantee of a good time (which is probably a relief for some artists and labels out there). But vocal trio Sol3 Mio, the world’s biggest-selling debut act of 2014, are so confident that they have become the first classical artists to offer a “Good Time Guaranteed or Your Money Back” with every ticket on their UK tour.
If previous performances are anything to go by, however, this wont hit them hard in their wallets. Recent shows in London at the Royal Albert Hall and O2 Arena as well as other arenas throughout the country have seen audiences in stitches of laughter, demanding more. But the their growing reputation and arenas of delighted fans isn’t enough for the trio, who are determined to spread joy with their unique performances. Ever keen to innovate and offer something new they have taken to the streets of London, singing to passers-by and even kept the morale of Amazon warehouse workers up as they prepared for Black Friday last year.
It’s been a quick rise for Sol3 Mio who saw their self-titled album quickly become the biggest-selling opera debut of 2014. The album, which was released in the UK in October, quickly charted in the lead up to a series of performances televised and public performances including Live from the Palladium, the Festival of Remembrance, where they delivered an extremely moving and sensitive performance for the Queen, and an imposing rendition of We Three Kings on BBC1’s Big Sing over Christmas. All this after they had already topped the charts in New Zealand, even out-selling fellow national Lorde, going five times platinum in the process.
Having trained at a prestigious opera school in Wales, the tenor brothers Pene and Amitai Pati and their baritone cousin Moses Mackay are hotly tipped as ones to watch amongst the next generation of opera singers to grace the stages of the world’s major opera houses. Pene recently won the highly-coveted Montserrat Caballé International Singing Competition. Together as Sol3 Mio, they not only bring their powerful voices to the public, but their infectious sense of humour through impeccable comic timing and brilliant off-the-cuff banter, reminding audiences of the lighter side of opera, and the traditions of ‘comic opera’ (opera buffa).
So, good time guaranteed (which is not so coincidentally the name of the tour). As Sol3 Mio explain, “If you are willing to buy the ticket, we are willing to put our hearts on our sleeves, put focus in our eyes, and put money where our mouths are. We guarantee that you will enjoy the show so much so that we will even give your money back if you do not break a laugh, tear or emotion. So come along and join us in the best night of song you will ever have!”
The guarantee does, however, come subject to a caveat – “When considering whether one has had a good time please bear in mind the following criteria that Sol3Mio believe constitutes having a good time:
Head-nodding, foot-tapping, smiling, clapping, cheering, whooping, whistling, dancing, shouting, singing, arm-raising, finger-clicking, pulse quickening, pupil-dilating, laughing, momentary forgetting of or any geopolitical, financial or personal relationship issues, or any other sense of joy, euphoria, mild amusement, pulse or curiosity.” Sounds fair to us.
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