Last Saturday, the Canada Bay Club in Five Dock opened its doors to host A Night at the Opera, a concert tailored especially for the local community. Guests were welcomed with a glass of champagne as Julie Accordion serenaded them with sweet Italian melodies on her accordion. The musical interlude set the scene for a sumptuous dinner, giving attendees the chance to mingle and chat before the show.
Bonfante took to the stage first, opening with a rousing rendition of La donna è mobile. Between arias, the tenor shared a personal memory.
“When I was a kid, I used to deliver fruit here to the Canada Bay Club for my family’s shop in Haberfield. Tonight truly feels special,” he said.
He also paid tribute to his mentor, Lamberto Furlan, who introduced him to the world of opera. Bonfante’s set list ranged from the greats like Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi to lesser known but equally captivating pieces, holding the audience’s attention throughout.
Next, it was Clarissa Spata’s turn to shine, performing music by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. In a brief address to the audience, Spata recalled her debut as a stand-by for the role of Maria in West Side Story at the Sydney Opera House.
Spata has won the Lady Fairfax New York Award from Opera Foundation Australia and the Royal Overseas League Bursary Award through the Australian Singing Competition, opportunities that allowed her to refine her craft in both New York and London.
Throughout the evening, cinematic clips projected on screen complemented each aria, adding visual flair that heightened the emotion of every note. The show concluded with an impassioned duet between Bonfante and Spata, earning such enthusiastic applause that the artists returned to the stage for an encore, sealing an unforgettable night.
Bonfante has exciting new works on the horizon, promising to bring more wonderful opera to the Australian stage, so stay tuned!
