Born in Naples, Italy (in the same street as the Legendary Tenor ‘Enrico Caruso’) Raffaele Pierno was already singing the most demanding Operatic Repertoire for Tenors at the age of 17. His highly successful Debut was a Tribute Concert to the Great Dramatic Tenor, Enrico Caruso, which took place in the City of Caruso’s birth (Napoli), Italy.
As a student of the Ancient Italian School of Singing (La Vecchia Scuola Italiana di Canto), Raffaele studied under the Baritone Maestro Antonio Finizio, from Reale Teatro San Carlo of Napoli, a close Associate of the Legendary Tenor, Mario del Monaco (The Great Otello of all the time). At Conservatorio Domenico Cimarosa di Avellino, Raffaele graduated with a Diploma di Canto (Ramo Cantanti), in collaboration with Pia Ferrara (Soprano) and President of “Centro incotri Musicali” di Napoli.
After graduating, his career moved forward quickly and Raffaele immediately became a singer of choice for Public Festivals and Celebrations, not only in Naples, but all around Italy. As a singer not only of Opera but also Sacred Music and Neapolitan Songs, his popularity grew as he started making many appearances in the great Cathedrals of Italy, as well as becoming a popular favourite voice of Tourism and Culture right throughout Italy, Europe and Australasia.
Raffaele’s reputation as a Maestro di Voce took him all around Europe as a Concert Soloist as well as an Instructor in many of the Prestigious Music schools of the Continent. In Australasia, he was a popular Concert Soloist with The Hunan Province Symphony Orchestra (China) as well as in Australian Capitals, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, where he also appeared and performed in many prominent places.
Ironically, it was the Cardinal and Mayor of Naples who invited him to give a recital of Neapolitan Songs and Sacred Music, in the 700 year old Duomo di San Gennaro di Napoli, one of the world’s most famous Architectural structures. To this day, Raffaele considers one of his career highlights to be giving a Recital for La Fondazione “Pasquale di Costanzo” in the Forum at Pompei.
In The past years, Raffaele has developed a show in collaboration with Leslie Martin (Soprano) “Sogno d’Italia”
Raffaele had the opportunity to work with the well known International French Tenor – Roberto Alagna on his Australian Tour, including Conductor Stefano Miceli (New York, Italy) an old friend and colleague of Raffaele from Naples, Italy. It was also an opportunity to meet up with Siobhan Stagg, who starred as Soprano on this tour.
Raffaele recently developed a new show in collaboration with Leanne Warne (Pianist) “Passioni Vocali” celebrating Italian’s finest Operatic Arias, popular Italian and Neapolitan Songs.