How was it to perform, (in fact jump in!) for our Puccini commemoration (Messa di Gloria) a few weeks ago, marking Puccini’s centenary?

I was so eager to make my debut with OHP by jumping in for the Puccini commemoration, it was amazing, especially celebrating one of my favorite composers’ centenary with a completely sold out event. Since day one I have felt a unique, friendly energy and environment with Opera Holland Park, and I couldn’t be happier to say I’m officially part of this beautiful and amazing team!

Can you tell us about your role at OHP this year, and what are you most looking forward to in the process?

I’ll be performing the role of Mario Cavaradossi who is Tosca’s lover. He’s a young, optimistic and gifted painter. He starts his journey having never experienced any serious adversity or problems before. Nevertheless, soon he will have life changing experiences that will eventually lead him to his death. This production will be a revival of OHP’s 2008 production, which was a huge success. I look forward to getting to know more about it, and hopefully contribute to another successful production.

‘E lucevan le stelle’ is one of the most iconic arias, what does it mean to you?

Well, it actually means a lot! I started as a baritone, but even then I always listened to a lot of tenors, and one of the arias that I listened to the most was ‘E lucevan le stelle’. It’s one of the arias that marked my childhood dream of becoming and opera singer. 

What kind of music do you enjoy listening to when you’re not performing?

I must confess that I’m so passionate (in fact addicted might be a better word) about opera that I spend my days listening to various great singers of the past, from Caruso, Völker, Corelli to Destinn, Callas, Tebaldi, Obraztsova and  of course my favorite – Del Monaco.

Can you describe a little bit about your journey into becoming an opera singer?

One day I arrived home and my father (who was a singer himself and sang Scarpia many times) was listening to a recording of Giuseppe di Stefano. I immediately fell in love with his voice and asked my father to give me vocal lessons. I was 12 years old at the time and it was the beginning of a dream that I’m able to live now. Years later when I was 15 my father took me to see a performance of Tosca in Lisbon as my birthday gift. I was far away from imagining that exactly 15 years later I was going to make my debut as Cavaradossi in London! It’s an extraordinary role to sing and I couldn’t be more excited.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist that has stayed with you?

It actually came from a video of Pavarotti, describing the day he met the great Beniamino Gigli. Gigli was in town for a performance of Lucia and agreed he would meet this young boy – a 12 year old Pavarotti – at 11am. Pavarotti arrived at 10am and listened to Gigli doing vocal exercises for one hour! At 11am when they met, Pavarotti asked him, “Maestro Gigli, I want to become a tenor. How long did you study?” Gigli replied “Well, I just finished!” If a man like Gigli, who was almost 60 years old at that time, had a huge career having sung everything, everywhere, still worked every day for one hour, it was very clear that there is always room to improve and get better, both technically speaking as well as artistically.

Cavaradossi by trade is a painter, do you have any secret or hidden artistic talents beyond music?

Unfortunately I don’t have any other artistic talents, although when I was younger there was a teacher that wanted me to seriously study the piano. I love playing but I get frustrated with never being able to get the sound quality that I want out of it!