Opera fans, it’s raining stars for you this month in the Emirates. But before we get to Jose and Katherine, there’s a certain Italian out to enchant you with his tenor vocals. Enter Alessandro Safina, the voice behind the hit “popera” song Luna, who performs this Thursday in Dubai. Although a classically trained opera singer (his favourite roles are Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème and Lensky in Tchaikovky’s Eugene Onegin), he’s also performed with Elton John. He gave tabloid! some insight into what we can expect from his UAE debut this week.
You’re touring a lot! Where are you right now and what are your plans for today?
Yes, I’m travelling a lot and currently I’m in Turkey for tonight’s concert in the open air arena of Istanbul. Then, off to Ukraine for TV shootings in Kiev and subsequently I’ll come to your area for two concerts in Doha and Dubai. In October I’ll also start a long, two months’ tour in Russia.
What can the audience expect from your concert in Dubai? What kind of songs?
I hope to please my new audiences in Doha and Dubai with two beautiful concerts and then... obviously, to come back to your area soon for more. The concert programme will be varied; of course I’ll sing some of my hit songs like Luna and Incanto, but also some classic Italian and Neapolitan songs.
How would you describe your concert style — do you interact with the audience at all?
Well, my concert style is rather classic. I always try to do something elegant that complies with my personality and style.
Yes, it often happens that I have direct contact with my public during my shows, but of course it must be a spur-of-the-moment, something that occurs spontaneously; it’s not a matter of ‘planning’.
What has been your most memorable stage performance and why?
Every venue, concert hall, leaves an impression, a memory. But obviously the real reminiscence is always set by the connection with audience. However, if you ask me about very memorable stages, I would certainly say the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Radio City Hall in New York. And let’s not forget L’Olympia in Paris.
You’ve worked with so many artists from Sarah Brightman to Elton John. Can you tell us any stories about those collaborations?
I met Elton during an important concert in London and then he proposed me to do record the duet with him. Of course I accepted his proposal at once. For the duet with Sarah Brightman I was contacted by her producer and from there a very nice collaboration and friendship arose.
In short... two of my wonderful experiences with great artists.
Do you have any collaborations planned for the future?
Collaborations with other artists are brought about by chance. Singing with Haifa would be a great pleasure for me... I hope she’ll read this interview.
What about a new album?
My new album, with beautiful new songs and some covers, will be released this year. It’s produced by Romano Musumarra, who also produced my very first album that made me well-known by my hit Luna. Of course I hope this new album will meet the taste of the public again.
I read that your original aim was to combine opera and contemporary music. Would you say you have succeeded in this? What do you think of the other “popera” acts that have emerged since such as Il Divo etc?
Initially I was doubting, but then I thought that it would be a great experiment to try out and follow. I think I’ve succeeded in combining the two genres and I must confess that it gave and still gives me a lot of satisfaction! Il Divo are four excellent and good looking artists, who deserve their international success. I hope to meet them in the future and sing with them in a show.
What else should our readers know about you?
I never speak very much about myself. I want to make myself known and appreciated by singing.
