Born in Naples, Southern of Italy (in the same street as the legendary Tenor “Enrico Caruso”) Raffaele start singing at very young age. As teenager he entertained people performing in a local trattoria named “Da Alfredo” where he was discovered just like “Enrico Caruso” by the owner of the trattoria Don “Franco Capasso” who introduce Raffaele to his future voice coach. As a student, he studied very hard and committed to the Ancient Italian school of singing (La Vecchia Scuola Italiana di Canto), and very passionately for seven years, with the Baritone Maestro “Antonio Finizio” from Teatro Reale “San Carlo” of Naples, a very close associate and friend of another great Tenor of the past “Mario Del Monaco”. At Conservatorium “Domenico Cimarosa”, Raffaele graduated with a Diploma di Canto (1998), in collaboration with “Pia Ferrara” Soprano and President of “Cento Incontri Musicali” di Napoli.
After graduating (1998) his career moved forward quickly and Raffaele immediately became a singer of choice for public festivals and celebrations. Around that period (1998 – 1999), he had the opportunity to work with “Luigi Ottaiano”, the Head of the Neapolitan Classical Song Course at the Conservatorium of Music “Nicola Sala” of Benevento in Italy. Recognised Globally as the only University-level Academic degree with a program entirely dedicated to the history, execution, and performance of Neapolitan song repertories. In his role, he works to preserve regional musical heritage and guide new generations of artists through performance practices and history not only in Naples, but all-around Italy.
As a singer not only of Neapolitan Songs but also Operatic Arias and “Sacred Music”, Raffaele popularity grew as he started making many appearances in the great Cathedrals of Naples, as well becoming a favorite popular voice of Tourism and Italian Culture right throughout Europe. Raffaele also had three years of great and fruitful collaboration (2001 – 2002 – 2003) with another great Conductor, the Maestro “Michele Carasia” from Salerno, who completed his higher specialisation for opera and conducting at the prestigious (Royal Philharmonic Academy of Bologna). Together they had also an opportunity to tour for five months in Australia (Sydney – Brisbane 2002). Since then, after so many years have passed, they are still very good friends.
In Australasia Raffaele returned, as a concert soloist with the “Chinese Hunan Province Symphony Orchestra” touring in Sydney at that time (2006) and in the past years in many other major cities: Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, where he performed in many prominent and Iconic places and venues, such as “The Shine Dome” the Australian Academy of Science in the capital city of Australia (Canberra).
Raffaele debut (1991) took place in his birth city of Naples at the prestigious and historic Teatro “Saverio Mercadante”. A tribute to the greatest tenor of all the times “Enrico Caruso” and after that great start a few years later, he was invited by the Cardinal and Mayor of Naples (1995) to give a recital of Neapolitan songs and Sacred Music, in the 700-year-old Duomo of “San Gennaro” one of many famous architectural structures of the World. To this day, Raffaele consider one of his career highlights to be giving a recital for la Fondazione “Pasquale Di Costanzo” (Artistic Director of the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli 1944 to 1972) in the Forum of Pompei near Naples.
Raffaele had a work/collaboration with the French tenor “Roberto Alagna” (2018) on his Australian tour, including the Conductor “Stefano Miceli” from Italy, an old friend and colleague of Raffaele from Naples.
During the past years, (since 2016) Raffaele developed few different shows: “Sogno D’Italia” (Dream of Italy) “Be My Love” (a Mario Lanza Tribute) “Passioni Vocali” (Vocals Passions) “Melodie D’amore” (Melody of Love) & “L’anima di Napoli” (The Soul of Naples) and “La Scala”. Celebrating many Italians’ finest operatic solo arias, Italian songs and duets; In particular the “Neapolitan Classics” and Traditional Melodies in original Language and much more, in collaboration with various International and Australian artists.
Raffaele has been on many occasions and continue to be a guest artist (since 2015) in collaboration with the “Brisbane City Pop Orchestra”. Together they have always created and delivered a very unique and exquisite entertainment for the audience, with different concerts styles.
Also very important is Raffaele participation in September event, to the annual “Fest Italia” in Brisbane. The right opportunity for him to share his “Neapolitan Heritage” and passion for singing to a very wide audience.
Raffaele had a wonderful collaboration (2026) with the “Noosa Orchestra” and with the Italian Conductor “Antoni Bonetti” (Founder & Principal Conductor over 30 years of the “Brisbane Symphony Orchestra”). They performed many arias and operatic duets, of great composers such as: Verdi, Puccini, Dvořák and Cezar Franck, in collaboration with “Jaqueline Ward” soprano and another Conductor “Robb Dennis” also a tenor in two concerts called “The Diva & The Tenors” with a very outstanding performance and a very warm welcome from the audience.
He also started a Trio Ensemble (2025) based on Sunshine Coast by the name “Trio Sole” in collaboration with “Vanessa West” soprano, and “Janet Brewer” pianist. The group already had great successful concerts in 2025 at “War Memorial Hall” (Cooroy), “Good Shepherd Lutheran Church” (Noosa), and “The Church of Christ” (Caloundra), with the show “Melodie D’amore” and a “Christmas soiree”. They will continue to perform into the years to come with a new gala concert called “La Scala”, a celebration of the most well-known and powerful arias and duets from the world of the opera: Tosca, Cavalleria Rusticana, La Boheme, Madam Butterfly and La Traviata.
In every concert he appears, Raffaele brings his Heritage of Neapolitan songs with joy and passion to his audiences, with a breath of fresh air “L’Anima di Napoli” (The Soul of Naples). A mix of “Neapolitan Traditional Classics” in its original language such as: ‘O Sole Mio, Torna a Surriento, Core ‘Ngrato, Tu Ca Nun Chiagne to mention few, and the most famous and cheerful of all – Funiculi’ Funicula’.
