Paul Tabone This Is Me CD

After four years of performances as Ubaldo Piangi in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic The Phantom of the Opera, the much-hailed tenor, Paul Ettore Tabone now releases his first studio album, This Is Me.

“In the shadow of lockdown and theatre closures, I was getting withdrawal symptoms and missing singing, performance and the audiences and for me, this became a time to reflect on my journey and the burning need to make that first album,” says Paul on the past year.

From a small town, on a sugarcane and pumpkin farm in North Queensland, Australia to a leading opera and musical theatre tenor felt like a fantasy, but this is the real story of Paul Tabone. With the help of Wiradjuri Soprano and composer, Shauntai Batzke, Paul 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.

He continues the song in Italian, honouring his own family and all the Italians who have made Australia their home. The song is a gift to his parents and a homage to Pavarotti, 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.

“Every song on the album reflects who I am and where I come from and the people and places that matter to me,” says Paul. “I have lived 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 that my album reflects this.”