Bocelli & Brightman

- MEET THE PERFORMERS -

Gaetano Bonfante

At the age of 24 Gaetano was introduced to the world of Opera for the first time by tenor Lamberto Furlan. Furlan, in a short time conveyed his incredible passion for the unique art-form and Gaetano would begin the next chapter of his life and professional career.

The concert stage has been where Gaetano has spent most of his performing life over the past few years with various prestigious engagements throughout Europe, America, Asia and Australia.

Gaetano's operatic roles include Tamino (Die Zauberfloter), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Alfredo (La Traviata), Rodolfo (La Boheme) and was a principle on the concert platform for the Angeli Custodi Company in Lucca (Italy), Puccini's home town.

Most recently, Gaetano was one of 22 singers selected to partake in the annual iSing Festival in Suzhou, China. The Young Artist Festival brings together singers from around the world to work on both Chinese and western Operatic repertoire with Veteran Repetiers, Directors, Conductors and Singing teachers from some of the most prestigious institutions and opera houses of the world, including The Met (New York), La Scala (Milano), Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich).  

All of this lead him to seek and experience the world of Music and story telling from behind the curtains, traveling all over the world in search of a technique that would allow him to do justice to the music he sings, but most importantly, convey the stories and bring the poetry carried by the music to life.

Clarissa Spata

Australian - Italian soprano Clarissa Spata, is one of Australia's most versatile and exciting artists. She seamlessly performs across the genres of Opera, Music theatre and Classical Crossover repertoire, which makes her one of the most sought after artists in the country.

Principal roles with Opera Australia include; Frasquita in the National Tour of Carmen, Musetta (cover) in La Bohème on Sydney Harbour, and Papagena in the National Tour of The Magic Flute. Opera Australia's School's Tour roles include; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella , Clorinda /Tisbe in two productions of Cinderella, Pamina, Queen of the Night, First Lady and Papagena in The Magic Flute, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Clown, Lady Sue and Music Hall Singer in Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing.

Principal roles with Australian International Productions touring China include: the High Priestess in Aïda, and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Clarissa also performed the role of Micäela in Carmen with Opera New England.

Clarissa won the prestigious Opera Foundation Australia's Lady Fairfax New York Award to study with teachers and coaches from The Metropolitan Opera and The Juilliard in New York, and The Australian Singing Competition's Royal Overseas League Bursary Award which allowed her to travel to London to study, while attending rehearsals at The Royal Opera House. She also won the Dame Joan Sutherland Encouragement Award twice, was recognized as an Outstanding Artist in the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge, and won the Pollard People's Choice Award for Performance Excellence.

In concert, Clarissa has toured China with a "Highlights of Music theatre" tour as the principal lead Soprano with David Rodgers Smith, dancers & orchestra for Australian International Productions, she has performed twice for "Opera in the Arboretum" alongside Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Rosario La Spina, Jose Carbo, Jane Ede, and James Egglestone, she regularly tours as lead Soprano with "An Afternoon at The Proms Spectacular," "The Australian Tenors" and has performed as a guest Soprano in several of Mark Vincent's tours.

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