Supreme Tenor, Roberto Alagna to tour Australia

Roberto Alagna to tour Australia

A rare chance to hear the world's supreme tenor
Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane from 21 July
With guest soprano Siobhan Stagg

Tickets on sale now

"Alagna's emotional performance earned ovation after ovation"
The New York Times

Roberto Alagna, one of the greatest voices of this generation and the most charismatic artist working in opera today, will tour Australia in 2016, performing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 21 July.

This will be Roberto Alagna's debut tour of Australia.

Alagna's landmark Australian appearances follow on the back of a three -month season starring with the New York Metropolitan Opera in the role of Canio (Pagliacci), and as Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly). And just announced, Robert Alagna will give his debut performance in Manon Lescaut, as Chevalier des Grieux. Later in 2016, Roberto Alagna will sing Lohengrin in Bayreuth. Undoubtedly his tour will be a highpoint on the Australian cultural calendar.

This is a rare chance to hear this magnificent Italian/French tenor, one of the most sought after opera stars in the world who performs on the world's greatest opera and concert stages and is invited to perform at the most prestigious festivals.

Roberto Alagna is a unique tenor with smouldering good looks and an extraordinary background, marked by tragedy and turbulence. But unlike most other tenors he has a performing background in cabaret "“ and that gives him the ability to cross the boundaries. For Australian audiences Mr Alagna has created a program that will truly showcase his sublime instrument. As well as performing some of the great operatic arias, he will sing popular songs that reflect his Sicilian, Neapolitan and French musical background. Roberto Alagna's career spans over 30 years; he has a repertoire of over 60 roles (including two operas which were composed specifically for him) and his diverse discography is one of the richest that exists, boasting numero us gold, platinum and double-platinum sellers.

Mr Alagna is also one of the opera world's most intriguing and fascinating characters. The title of his 2014 album "My Life is an Opera" rings true as his personal story is a librettist's dream.

As a young man he studied accountancy, sang in Parisian cabarets and released a pop album. Influenced by the films of Mario Lanza, he made the switch to opera, and in 1988, when Luciano Pavarotti came to Paris and was signing copies of his recordings Alagna pushed his way through the throng, stood before Pavarotti and told him he wanted to be an operatic tenor.

Amused, Pavarotti invited Alagna to sing one note. When he did Pavarotti' s jaw dropped. The maestro invited Alagna to audition to earn a ticket to the finale of the Pavarotti Competition in Philadelphia. He won his ticket to Philadelphia, and then he won the prestigious competition. Overnight, at 24, his operatic career took off.

Lead roles and acclaim at opera houses such as La Scala, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera in New York followed.

As his career continued to gather momentum, his personal life comprised intense highs and lows. His first wife died of a brain tumour leaving him with a 2-year-old daughter. He then married famous Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu and

together they reigned as opera's golden couple for over a decade. He recently married Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and together they have a young daughter. Mr Alagna will be supported on this tour by a young German-based Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg, who has quickly established herself as a rising star of the opera and concert stage. The legendary German mezzo soprano Christa Ludwig has described her voice as 'one of the best I've ever heard' , and she has recently attracted the attention of the international press when chosen to step in at short notice for major performances with the Berlin Philharmonic and Royal Opera House in London.

Stefano Miceli, who is currently working with the NYC Opera Renaissance and Bellini Opera Foundation in Michigan, will conduct the Australian Sinfonietta Orchestra in Sydney and Melbourne, and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra with Roger Jonsson Concert Master.

Maestro Miceli is a regular guest artist as pianist and conductor at festivals and theatres across Europe, Asia and the USA. Roberto Alagna has sold millions of albums of this unique crossover blend, enjoying the devotion of a vast mainstream audience while never compromising on his rigorous approach to singing the great operatic repertoire. Deutsche Grammophon and Universal Music Australia are delighted to release Alagna's 2-CD album "Robertissimo" in conjunction with the Italian/French tenor 's much anticipated Australian tour. This official tour edition of "Robertissimo" features Alagna at his magnetic best, including arias from Verdi, Donizetti, Massenet and Puccini.

Alagna is being brought to Australia by the arts patron and philanthropist, Lady Southey AC, a co-director, with Franca Smarrelli, of SkyHigh.

"He leaves you no doubt that his is an international talent: he has the voice, the temperament, the charisma" - The Independent, UK

"Truly stirring""“ Telegraph, UK alagna.com.au

www.facebook.com/AlagnaAustralia/

SYDNEY

Venue: Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall
Date: Thursday 21 July
Time: 7.00pm
Bookings: sydneyoperahouse.com

MELBOURNE

Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall
Date: Wednesday 27 July
Time: 7.30pm
Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183
ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100

BRISBANE

Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Date: Saturday 30 July
Time: 7.30pm
Bookings: ticketek.com.au or 13 28 49

Sydney and Melbourne - www.ticketmaster.com.au
Brisbane - www.ticketek.com.au