Ferruccio Furlanetto has sung with everyone from Jose Carreras to Dame Joan Sutherland in a celebrated five decade career, but it is a moment with the legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan that sticks with the Italian operatic bass the most.

Furlanetto, who will perform highlights from his most beloved roles in a solo show at Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday, started out singing in pop bands before the “drugs circulating and the cheating of the royalties” turned him toward’s Italy’s national music.