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Note to patrons: Soprano Clarissa Spata has unfortunately had to withdraw from Sunday’s performance of “Bocelli & Brightman - The Tribute,” due to sickness. She will be replaced by Opera Australia’s Julie Lea Goodwin.
"Bocelli & Brightman” is a tribute to two of the greatest and most influential classical crossover artists of this generation. This Mega Concert is packed with hit songs like Memory, Nessun Dorma, Phantom of the Opera, Nella Fantasia, Time to Say Goodbye, and The Prayer.
Starring two of Australia’s vocal power houses - Soprano Clarissa Spata and Tenor Gaetano Bonfante come together to star in one of the most exciting shows to hit the stage, accompanied by Australia’s finest musicians lead by Maestro Glenn Amer.
Cast & Creatives
Julie Lea Goodwin
Julie Lea Goodwin is a leading Australian soprano who has gained wide recognition for her sparkling lyric soprano voice and exceptional stagecraft.
In 2021, post covid-lockdowns, Julie Lea ‘re-opened opera’ at the Sydney Opera House starring as the title role in Opera Australia’s The Merry Widow, for which she received rave reviews and was featured on the front cover of the March 2021 issue of British magazine “Opera".
This year marks Julie Lea’s 7th year performing leading roles with her national opera company, Opera Australia. Role highlights include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Madama Cortese in Il viaggio a Reims, Wendy Whiteley in a new production “Whiteley” by Elena Kats-Chernin (about famous Australian painter Brett Whiteley) and her role as Maria in the spectacular outdoor production of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. Julie Lea has also appeared as Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme across six major opera seasons including the extravagant ‘Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’ which was screened in cinemas globally and released onto DVD by ABC Classics.
Julie Lea began her career in musical theatre aged only 19, performing Christine Daae in the Australasian tour of The Phantom of the Opera. The following year she played Maria in the national tour of West Side Story and toured Australia again as Grace in ANNIE, for which she was nominated for a Greenroom Award. She is thrilled to bring you a mix of beloved musical theatre and operatic hits.
Gaetano Bonfante
Sydney born singer Gaetano Bonfante has been at home for many years on the classical concert stage. Being one of the final 20 contestants on the ABC’s Operatunity Oz, to then receiving the inaugural Alice Amy MacDonald Scholarship to attend the Victorian College of the Arts, gave Gaetano his foundations for life on the stage. Gaetano has performed in 15 productions for Opera Australia, toured La Traviata (as Alfredo) to 18 Cities in China, represented Australia in the international iSing opera program in China, performed as a special guest with the Arma Dei Carabinieri 110 piece Orchestra 1qswin Piazza San Marco Venice, and written and performed various cabaret shows on some of the most prestigious cruise ships around the world. These are just a few of the highlights of which Gaetano is most proud.
As a teller of stories and a singer of song, Gaetano takes his audience to the depth of the heart through rich tenor voice and passion for the music he loves.
