Gaetano Bonfante was born in Australia to Italian parents. Having grown up in his fathers fruit shop in one Sydney’s Italian Suburbs, surrounded by beautiful Italian produce, popular Italian movies, classic Neapolitan Songs, and every dialect imaginable, a healthy passion for the Operatic art form seemed only natural.

Gaetano’s vocal journey began in the school choir at age of 10 and Panis Angelicus would be the piece that would introduce him to the immense world of classical music.

Later in his teens, Gaetano began entertaining his beloved community with the beautiful folk songs of southern Italy, popular Italian song and eventually all that was Andrea Bocelli. Gaetano became the go to singer for many Australia's most prestigious events and weddings. It is here that he learned to connect with an audience, work with an orchestra and grow as a young performer. This repertoire took Gaetano to some of the most prestigious venues around the world, singing as a special guest on Luxury Yachts, and in Casinos and Theatres, and private Islands…

Just out of School, Gaetano was one of five students chosen to attend Masque (National Institute for Performing Arts). The intense Musical Theatre program created the foundation for the years of stage work to come, it is also where he was introduced to Michael Harvey (A director of the school). This was the beginning of a wonderful musical relationship and friendship of which now stands at almost 20 years and it is this special connection which is so beautifully shared with their audiences in Pure Imagination.

At the age of 24 Gaetano was introduced to the world of Opera for the first time by tenor Lamberto Furlan. Furlan, in a short time conveyed his incredible passion for the unique art-form and Gaetano would begin the next chapter of his life and professional career.

In 2006 Gaetano was in the final 20 contestants of the Operatunity Oz Television program which then lead him to be a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Performance under the full Alice Amy McDonald Scholarship. During his tertiary studies, Gaetano was awarded numerous other scholarships including the Lionel Gel and Atheneum Awards.

The concert stage has been where Gaetano has spent most of his performing life over the past few years with various prestigious engagements throughout Europe, America, Asia and Australia.

Gaetano’s operatic roles include Tamino (Die Zauberfloter), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Alfredo (La Traviata), Rodolfo (La Boheme) and was a principle on the concert platform for the Angeli Custodi Company in Lucca (Italy), Puccini’s home town.

In January 2016, Gaetano sang the role of Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata in 18 Cities throughout China with the Australian International Opera Company, performing to audiences who were hearing Verdi live for the very first time.

Most recently, Gaetano was one of 22 singers selected to partake in the annual iSing Festival in Suzhou, China. The Young Artist Festival brings together singers from around the world to work on both Chinese and western Operatic repertoire with Veteran Repetiers, Directors, Conductors and Singing teachers from some of the most prestigious institutions and opera houses of the world, including The Met (New York), La Scala (Milano), Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich).

All of this lead him to seek and experience the world of Music and story telling from behind the curtains, traveling all over the world in search of a technique that would allow him to do justice to the music he sings, but most importantly, convey the stories and bring the poetry carried by the music to life.

Australian – Italian soprano Clarissa Spata, is one of Australia’s most versatile and exciting artists. She seamlessly performs across the genres of Opera, Music theatre and Classical Crossover repertoire, which makes her one of the most sought after artists in the country.

Clarissa graduated with Distinction in Voice (Bachelor of Music) from The Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She began her journey towards an operatic career when, at age 11, she became a part of the Opera Australia’s Children’s Chorus performing in several seasons of Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci, Turandot and La Bohème.

Principal roles with Opera Australia include; Frasquita in the National Tour of Carmen, Musetta (cover) in La Bohème on Sydney Harbour, and Papagena in the National Tour of The Magic Flute. Opera Australia’s School’s Tour roles include; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella , Clorinda /Tisbe in two productions of Cinderella, Pamina, Queen of the Night, First Lady and Papagena in The Magic Flute, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Clown, Lady Sue and Music Hall Singer in Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing.

Principal roles with Australian International Productions touring China include: the High Priestess in Aïda, and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Clarissa also performed the role of Micäela in Carmen with Opera New England.

Clarissa won the prestigious Opera Foundation Australia’s Lady Fairfax New York Award to study with teachers and coaches from The Metropolitan Opera and The Juilliard in New York, and The Australian Singing Competition’s Royal Overseas League Bursary Award which allowed her to travel to London to study, while attending rehearsals at The Royal Opera House. She also won the Dame Joan Sutherland Encouragement Award twice, was recognized as an Outstanding Artist in the McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge, and won the Pollard People’s Choice Award for Performance Excellence.

In concert, Clarissa has toured China with a “Highlights of Music theatre” tour as the principal lead Soprano with David Rodgers Smith, dancers & orchestra for Australian International Productions, she has performed twice for “Opera in the Arboretum” alongside Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Rosario La Spina, Jose Carbo, Jane Ede, and James Egglestone, she regularly tours as lead Soprano with “An Afternoon at The Proms Spectacular,” “The Australian Tenors” and has performed as a guest Soprano in several of Mark Vincent’s tours.

This year she will be headlining alongside “The Italian Tenors” on their national Australian tour, and for the second time she will be a guest artist for the “Ricordi di Sanremo” concerts touring at the Sydney State Theatre, Melbourne Palais, Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide, The Fortitude Theatre Brisbane and The Astor Theatre in Perth. Clarissa’s other concert appearances include performing as the Soprano soloist with Willoughby Symphony Orchestra in their Mozart Requiem, conducted by Paul Fitzsimon, has toured nationally and internationally with “The 7 Sopranos,”and recently performed the famous Opera-Rock duet Barcelona with Virginia Lillye at the Sydney State Theatre in “Queen’s Greatest Hits,”conducted by George Ellis.

Clarissa was chosen to be featured as the guest soprano in Princess Cruises mainstage classical crossover production show BRAVO! She has launched 9 casts over her guest artist contracts performing well loved soprano arias to audiences all over the world.

Clarissa also co-formed operatic group FUSION, and Le Stelle which is in demand on the cruise circuit both here and abroad.

Recently, Clarissa made the Quarter Finals of The Voice Australia, Season 9, performing a mix of well loved arias, opera-rock pieces, and even a twist on a famous excerpt from a choral work. She was mentored by Delta Goodrem and Boy George and made the final 5 artists in Delta’s team. Clarissa was invited as a judge to represent opera singers on Channel 7’s TV show “All Together Now,” compered by Julia Zemiro.

Recordings include: Over the rainbow – Clarissa Spata, Bocelli & Brightman- The Tribute Album, Le Stelle, with Baritone Javier Vilarino, accompanied live on piano with Glenn Amer, The 7 Sopranos album Popcorn - Songs of Stage and Screen, as well as their first album that was self-titled that was released by the ABC, and ENCORE’S Il Destino available on iTunes.

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