The single Luna, released by Italian tenor Alessandro Safina in 1999, climbed to the second position on the Dutch music charts. Born in Siena in 1963, Safina built a career bridging the distinct worlds of classical opera and contemporary pop music, establishing himself as a significant figure in the operatic pop genre.
Early Training and Operatic Debut
Safina began his formal musical studies at age nine, enrolling in a music academy three years later. At 17, he entered the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini in Florence. His professional breakthrough arrived in 1989 when he secured a victory at the Concorso Lirico Internazionale in Mantova. This success paved the way for his debut in opera, where he appeared in 1990 as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La bohème alongside soprano Katia Ricciarelli.
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During the 1990s, Safina initiated a professional partnership with pianist and composer Romano Musumarra, leading to his self-titled 2001 studio release. His international profile grew through various high-profile projects, including contributions to the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s film Moulin Rouge!, where he performed alongside Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. In November 2001, he performed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music of the Night for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Show.
Multimedia and Touring
Safina’s career expanded into global media and diverse performance venues. In 2001, he taped the concert Only You at the El Greco amphitheatre in Sicily, which was later broadcast on PBS and released on DVD. His collaborative efforts include a 2007 duet with Sarah Brightman and a 2017 performance of O sole mio with Andrea Bocelli in Tashkent. Beyond music, he has appeared in the soap opera O Clone and the film Tosca e Altre Due.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Siena, Italy
- Primary Occupation: Opera singer and actor
- Notable Chart Performance: Luna reached number 2 in the Netherlands
- Notable Duet Partners: Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Rod Stewart, and Chrissie Hynde
- Film Contributions: Moulin Rouge! (2001)
- Significant Award: Concorso Lirico Internazionale winner, 1989
Questions readers ask
What is the primary musical style of Alessandro Safina?
Safina is identified as an operatic pop singer, a style that blends traditional operatic vocal techniques with modern pop arrangements.
Did Safina perform in any films?
Yes, he contributed to the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge! and appeared in the film Tosca e Altre Due as the character Mario Cavaradossi.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: operatic pop, opera and estrada
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