From Empire Theatre award victory to the stages of Broadway

The Empire Theatre’s Brian Boak awardee, Paul Ettore Tabone, has released his debut album to the delight of worldwide fans.

DAZZLING DEBUT: Australia’s beloved tenor and winner of the Empire Theatre’s prestigious Brian Boak Award, Paul Ettore Tabone has released his debut album, This Is Me, following several months of lockdown and time spent away from the stage. PICTURE: Contributed

From the small far north Queensland town of Ingham to the stages of London’s West End, the National Opera of Bucharest, Italy and Broadway, Paul Ettore Tabone has released his debut album to the delight of opera lovers across the globe.

The result of adapting to a new life amid COVID lockdowns, the Aussie tenor, dubbed Australia’s own Andrea Boccelli and the winner of the Empire Theatre’s prestigious Brian Boak Award said his first studio album, This Is Me, was a chance to reflect on his whirlwind opera journey.

Paul Ettore Tabone’s debut album, This Is Me was released earlier this month to the delight of fans across the world. PICTURE: Contributed

“In the shadow of lockdown and theatre closure I missed singing, performance and audiences – and for me, this became a time to reflect on my journey and the burning need to get on and make my first album, and repopularise this fabulous art form,” he said.

After going from four years on the stage in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic, The Phantom Of The Opera in the role of Ubaldo Piangi, Tabone said the album was honest and came straight from the heart.

Paul Ettore Tabone with musical extraordinaire Andrew Lloyd Webber (right). PICTURE: Contributed by Paul Ettore Tabone

“From a small town, on a sugarcane and pumpkin farm in the tip of far north Queensland

to becoming a leading tenor opera and musical theatre singer is the stuff of fantasy and dreams,” he said.

“I loved opera from the very first moment I heard it – and as a small boy couldn’t

understand why everyone around me didn’t share that love.”

“I fell in love with singing at the age of six and followed his dream to study music, graduating from Central Queensland University in 2009 with a bachelor of music theatre degree.”

After growing up in the small far north Queensland town of Ingham, Paul Ettore Tabone has gone on to perform on the world’s biggest stages including Broadway and West End. PICTURE: Contributed

Since then the Aussie farm boy has been in huge demand performing in theatres and on stages across the world including Teatro Carlo Felice and Teatro Del Giglio in Italy.

At just 28, Paul was chosen by Signora Nicoletta Mantovan, the wife of the late renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti, to perform as one of four tenors at the world renowned Arena in Verona sharing the stage with operatic icons, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Jose Carraras and Ambrogio Maestri to an audience of 20,000, in memoriam to the great Pavarotti for the 100th year birthday celebration of the Arena in Verona.

It was here in 2014 at the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation that Paul met music producer, arranger and composer, Robin A Smith who has worked beside him on the album.

‘Every song in the album is special to me and reflects who I am and where I come from and the people and places that matter to me,” Tabone said.

“I’ve lived in Italy and UK and sang all over the world, but I’m close to my roots and have a deep love and respect for the land, the earth and my heritage, Australia’s heritage. It’s important my album reflects this.”

Paul Ettore Tabone said his debut album was honest and came straight from the heart following several months of lockdowns when the performer was unable to do what he loves best. Picture: Contributed

With the help of Wirandjuri soprano and composer, Shauntai Batzke, Tabone had part of the song, I am Australian translated into an Aboriginal language to pay respect to the Wirandjuri people, the first people of his nation, and he continues the song in Italian, honouring his own family and all the Italians who have made Australia their home.

Tabone’s debut album is packed with a passion he hopes to share with people who may never go and watch opera, but who will be inspired by the joy and heart.

This Is Me is available on several streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Deezer, TIDAL and many more.
For more information on how you can listen to Tabone’s debut album, follow this link.