Encouraged by his father, Speranza fell in love with singers such as “Caruso and Ivana Spagna”, though it was not until later in life that his love of opera took hold.

When he was 12 years old, he took singing lessons with soprano Alessandra Lepore.

Lepore explained the emotional plots of each opera to him, analysing the deep sentiments in the age-old stories for the young boy.

Speranza enrolled in the San Pietro a Majella conservatory in Naples when he turned 18 and devoted himself to the study of opera.

He learned how to play the piano and soon began performing in various productions, such as the Rossini Opera Festival in 2006.

In 2013, Speranza took the plunge and travelled to Australia.

“I wanted to explore my independence while pursuing my passion,” he explains.

“I’ve always dreamed of performing at the Sydney Opera House.”

Though a opera afficianado, music is not the only string to Speranza’s bow.

“I have a diploma from pastry school, and I used those skills to support myself when I first came to Australia,” he says.

“I worked as a manager at several pastry shops in Sydney.”

In 2014, the tenor got his big break, performing in a production of The Gondoliers.

From 2015 to 2018, Speranza was part of the choir in various Opera Australia productions, such as The Eighth Wonder, Parsifal, Requiem and Aida.

On 27 July, the singer became an Australian citizen; an experience that deeply moved him.

His advice to Italians wishing to migrate to Australia is sage:

“Have a good knowledge of English, have a qualification and have a passion to pursue,” he lists.

“It’s important to show the Australian people that we Italians are motivated and talented.”

In the future, Speranza hopes to delight the Italo-Australian community with a dedicated performance.

“I’d love to sing at the Italian Forum in Leichhardt,” he enthuses.

“I’d like to rejuvenate the suburb and bring people together.

“I want to be part of this drive for change that must come from the new generation of migrants.

“Our desire to form an Italian community wherever we go is one of our best qualities as a culture and we mustn’t lose that.”