The string of shows will begin on Saturday, February 4, with an evening of opera featuring the best of bel canto.

Literally meaning ‘beautiful song’ or ‘beautiful singing’, bel canto is a lyrical style of operatic singing which graced stages in the early decades of the 19th century.

The ‘King of the High Cs’, Pavarotti, has been known to say that he learnt to sing bel canto from listening to the birds sing in their natural, free-flowing way.

This Saturday, a handful of Australia’s most celebrated operatic talents will breathe life into this mesmerising style, performing scenes from Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy and Bellini’s Norma.

Among the voices which will resound across the gardens is that of internationally acclaimed baritone, Phillip Calcagno.

Having sung before an array of international audiences, Phillip fondly recalls performing The Merry Widow at the historic Teatro Greco in Taormina (Sicily) as one the most unforgettable moments of his career.

“Singing on top of that mountain against a backdrop of Greek and Roman ruins, with the sea and Giardini Naxos down below us was just fantastic,” he says.

While traces of ancient ruins may not dot Victoria Gardens, Phillip explains that the vibrant atmosphere of the annual outdoor concerts is what keeps him coming back to perform time after time.

“At dusk all of the lights come down and you feel like you’re in an amphitheatre in a sense,” he says.

“Being outdoors creates a much more casual and warm atmosphere than in the setting of a theatre, which usually has quite a conservative edge to it.”

Far from a fancy night at the opera, this free event draws a diverse crowd of families and friends from all over the city, from opera fanatics to first-timers, for a warm summer’s night of song under the stars.

As Phillip gears up to perform the role of Figaro from Barber of Seville alongside Australia’s finest soprano, Emma Matthews, he looks forward to showcasing the beauty of bel canto and the human voice.

“I hope that everybody walks away feeling a little bit elated, because beautiful music just gets to your soul.”

Saturday’s night of opera will be followed by two more concerts at the gardens – The Classics: Broadway and The Classics: Symphony – on February 11 and February 25 respectively.