By Sonia Isaacs
INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed lyric tenor Paul Ettore Tabone will return to the Hinterland this month with a powerful and deeply personal concert, ‘Paul Tabone Salutes Andrea Bocelli’, celebrating the music of one of the world’s most iconic voices at Maleny.
For Tabone, who grew up in the North Queensland town of Ingham and has spent much of his professional life on major stages across Europe, performing in regional communities is not just another tour stop – it is at the heart of why he sings.
“I’ve spent nearly 20 years in North Queensland, so regional communities are something I feel very passionate about,” he explained speaking with GC&M News.
Maleny, in particular, holds a special place in his story. Tabone has been performing there for around a decade, always carving out a spot in his touring schedule to return.
That enduring connection is thanks to well known local artistic director Kim Kirkman, now based in Maleny but once one of Tabone’s first university lecturers and a pivotal mentor in his early career. Tabone credits Kirkman with changing his life.
As a teenager, Tabone thought he’d be a rugby player or a chef, and had “no idea” he could sing. That changed when his piano teacher asked him to perform at a funeral. After hearing him sing “Amazing Grace”, she gently suggested he might not be a great pianist but he had “an amazing voice”.
Within months he was cast in the school musical and earned a place at university in Mackay, where Kim Kirkman became the first person to properly teach him how to sing.
From there, Tabone’s career took flight. He landed a role in Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, touring Australia for 18 months before moving to Italy to refine his naturally operatic voice. He went on to live and work across Italy, Germany, and now London, while maintaining close ties to home and regularly touring Australia.
The Maleny concert, ‘Paul Tabone Salutes Andrea Bocelli’, traces the remarkable journey that led him to perform with Andrea Bocelli at the iconic Arena di Verona, a 20,000-seat Roman amphitheatre.
The program will feature many of Bocelli’s best-loved songs, including classics such as “The Prayer” and “Con Te Partirò” (Time to Say Goodbye), delivered with Tabone’s trademark warmth and emotional intensity.
While his career has taken him to some of the world’s most prestigious stages, Tabone says the greatest reward is the joy he sees on the faces of audiences in regional towns that rarely experience international-calibre performances.
“In these communities, we don’t get the likes of Andrea Bocelli coming to these venues,” he said. “Going there and singing in a way that is really a quality international performance on that stage gives people a rush, gives people happiness – and that’s what it’s about for me.”
Tabone is also committed to giving back through The Artist Lab, a company he founded to provide workshops and performance opportunities for young regional Australians. As part of his Maleny appearance, he will introduce emerging singers from the broader region to share the stage, alongside Kim Kirkman and Brisbane-based pianist Mark Connors.
His last Maleny concert was so popular that people who arrived at the door hoping for tickets, were turned away once the venue reached capacity. This time, Tabone is urging audiences to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
With his rich Italian heritage, world-class operatic pedigree and deep affection for regional Queensland, Paul Ettore Tabone is set to deliver a concert that promises not just beautiful music, but a heartfelt celebration of community and the enduring power of song in Maleny.
Maleny Community Centre is located at 23 Maple Street, Sunday 26 April 2026 3pm. Tickets via trybooking.