Australian Competitions Club

http://www.redlandcitybulletin.com.au/story/3913945/win-tickets-alagna-performs-with-qso/?cs=365

WIN TICKETS: Alagna performs with QSO
WIN: Win tickets to see tenor Roberto Alagna, performing with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra on July 30.  Photo: Felix Broede.



Italian/French tenor Roberto Alagna will perform with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition centre on Saturday, July 30.

This  one-off extraordinary concert is part of Roberto Alagna’s debut tour of Australia.

Alagna’s landmark Australian appearances follow his three-month season starring with the New York Metropolitan Opera in the role of Canio (Pagliacci) and Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly). Just announced, Roberto Alagna will give his debut performance in Manon Lescaut, as Chevalier des Grieux. Later in 2016, he will sing Lohengrin in Bayreuth.

Alagna  performs on the world’s greatest opera and concert stages and is invited to perform at the most prestigious festivals. The Brisbane concert is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Queensland Arts Showcase. Alagna is being brought to Australia by the arts patron and philanthropist, Lady Southey AC.

QSO Chief Executive Officer Sophie Galaise said the company was thrilled to partner in bringing an international superstar of the calibre of Roberto Alagna to Brisbane in what is another major coup for Queensland.

A unique tenor with smouldering good looks and an extraordinary background, Alagna is marked by tragedy and turbulence, and ultimately, incredible success.

Alagna has created a program that showcases talent in performing some operatic arias as ewell as popular songs that reflect his Sicilian, Neapolitan and French musical background.

Alagna’s career spans over 30 years with a repertoire of more than 60 roles (including two operas which were composed specifically for him) and his diverse discography is one of the richest that exists, boasting numerous gold, platinum and double-platinum sellers.  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.

Pavarotti invited Alagna to sing one note and then  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  competition, launching his  operatic career.

Lead roles and acclaim at opera houses such as La Scala, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera in New York followed. His first wife died of a brain tumour leaving him with a two-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 German-based Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg, who has quickly established herself as a rising star of the opera and concert stage.

Deutsche Grammophon and Universal Music Australia will release Alagna’s 2-CD album Robertissimo in conjunction with the  tour.

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek.

WIN:Redland City Bulletin has one double pass of B-Reserve seats for the show on July 30 (value $296) to give away. To be in the draw to win, enter your details below by 9am on Monday, June 6. Conditions may apply and winners will be contacted and announced online.