'This is not us. We are not violent people' – says opera star whose family were injured in New Zealand shooting

15 March 2019, 12:27 | Updated: 22 March 2019, 11:43

Opera trio Sol3 Mio recorded an emotional tribute to all those killed an injured in the Christchurch attacks

On Friday afternoon in New Zealand, news broke of mass shootings at two mosques in the city of Christchurch. A few hours later, opera trio Sol3 Mio were due to perform at the Regent on Broadway in Palmerston North.

Sol3 Mio tenor, Pene Pati also learned that his wife's uncle was among those injured in the attacks.

Pati wrote on a Facebook post before the concert "My wife cries from the other side of the world today as her uncle is one of the injured...Tonight, I will sing for my people in Christchurch. This is not us. We are not violent people. This has NO place in Aotearoa."

In the empty theatre, the trio recorded an emotional performance of Coldplay's song Fix You.

Pati's wife is soprano Amina Edris. The pair sing around the world, including in productions for Opera New Zealand and San Francisco Opera.

According to the latest reports, 49 people have been killed and more than 20 people have been seriously injured in the mass shootings during Friday prayers at two mosques in the city.

In a Facebook post after the concert, Pati said: "I will remember this show for a long long time."