Tenor
Rosario La Spina

Biography
Rosario La Spina trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music continuing his studies at RNCM, Manchester under the tutelage of Joseph Ward OBE.
In 2002, Rosario won first prize in the Mario Del Monaco International Opera Competition and made his principal role debut at La Scala as Riccardo (Oberto) reprising the role in Genoa.
He made his Opera Australia debut as Cavaradossi (Tosca) in 2005 and has subsequently appeared for the national company as Radames (Aida) The Prince (Love for Three Oranges), Alfredo (La traviata), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), The Duke (Rigoletto), The Prince (Rusalka), Calaf (Turandot), Macduff (Macbeth), Rodolfo (La bohème), Don José (Carmen) and the title role in The Tales of Hoffmann. His American debut was as Rodolfo for Seattle Opera in 2007; he returned to Seattle as Radames and made his first Canadian appearances in this same role.
Rosario has also been a regular soloist with the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras and appears on the CD/DVD Classical Spectacular with the Melbourne Symphony (ABC Classics). Other recordings include Puccini Romance with the Queensland Symphony (ABC Classics), The Prince in Rusalka under Richard Hickox (Chandos) and, in 2009, a major solo album released by Universal Music featuring Rosario with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. His 2010 Universal duo release Always You (with his sister, Anna-Maria La Spina) shot straight to the top of the classical charts in Australia.
The Verdi Bicentenary in 2013 saw him sing Alfredo and The Duke in Perth, Don Alvaro (La forza del destino) in Adelaide, Verdi’s Requiem in Taiwan and New Zealand, Radames in Detroit and Gaston (Jérusalem) in Fidenza; he also performed Don José throughout Japan.
Most recently, Rosario La Spina has sung The Duke for Opera Queensland, Manrico (Il trovatore) for West Australian Opera, Pollione (Norma) and Canio for Victorian Opera, Samson (Samson et Dahlia) in Tokyo, Cavaradossi, Turiddu and Canio for State Opera of South Australia, Erik (Der fliegende Holländer) for Melbourne Opera and The Prince (The Love for Three Oranges), Turiddu, Canio and Calaf for Opera Australia.
His celebrated portrayals of Turiddu and Canio were featured at the Luglio Musicale Trapanese in 2019 and for Festival Opera, New Zealand in 2020. Future engagements include his debut as Siegmund in Opera Australia’s new production of Die Walküre, Rodolfo (La bohème) for State Opera of South Australia and Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) in Belgium.
Current Performances
Past Performances
Performance ENCORE – Opera Queensland Returns to the Stage
This is the moment we have been waiting for. The opportunity to be in the theatre again, sharing the joy and power of great singing with a live audience. Twelve…
28 September 2021Workshop Adult Classical Workshop
Receive one-on-one tuition from Opera Queensland’s vocal coach, Susan Ellis and tenor Rosario La Spina in this group workshop. Bring along your own piece of solo classic repertoire and take…
20 November 2021Performance VERDI
Opera Queensland’s VERDI brings the power and majesty of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s works to the Concert Hall stage for two performances this November. Songs from La traviata, Macbeth, Il…
Thursday 9 – Saturday 11 March 2023Performance Macbeth in Concert
False face must hide what false heart doth know Fuelled by treachery, superstition and a lust for power that knows no bounds, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tale for our times….
24 April 2024Performance Jessica Pratt in Concert
A Brisbane Bel Canto event A NEW FESTIVAL FOR THE BRISBANE STAGE Jessica Pratt in Concert with Queensland Symphony Orchestra Jessica Pratt celebrates the music of Vincenzo Bellini for a…