Entertainment
9 September, 2026
His master’s voice
INTERNATIONAL lyric tenor Paul Ettore Tabone, described by the BBC as “Australia’s own Bocelli” is set to return to the Innisfail Shire Hall on Saturday 12 September with his new, powerful and emotional tribute to Andrea Bocelli.
Praised for his “powerhouse voice that could fill a stadium,” Mr Tabone leads audiences through Bocelli’s most iconic repertoire, performing favourites such as ‘The Prayer’, ‘Time to Say Goodbye’, ‘Canto della Terra’ and ‘Besame Mucho’.
Mr Tabone’s connection to Bocelli runs deep.
In 2016, he shared the stage with the Italian superstar at the Arena di Verona before an audience of 20,000, with the performance broadcast to more than 20 million viewers worldwide.
That milestone moment inspired the heartfelt tribute concert now touring across Australia.
Although Mr Tabone grew up in Ingham, his family’s history is woven through the Cassowary Coast. The Tabone family originally settled around South Johnstone, where his grandfather Paul lived before moving north. His great grandparents, Salvatore and Eugie, came from Malta and Cooktown and later moved to the Herbert district to pursue sugar cane farming.
Tabone’s uncle Mick also owned and managed the Johnstone River Crocodile Farm for many years, strengthening the family’s long-standing ties to Innisfail and the surrounding region.
Mr Tabone is one of Australia’s most accomplished international tenors, with a career spanning London’s West End, Broadway, the Sydney Opera House, the National Opera of Bucharest and Teatro Carlo Felice in Italy.
He has performed a record breaking 1800 shows in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in London and is celebrated for his ability to move effortlessly between opera, classical crossover and musical theatre.
Returning to North Queensland is a personal highlight.
“Coming home to perform in Innisfail and Cairns is incredibly special for me,” Mr Tabone said.
“These concerts feel like a homecoming and I’m looking forward to sharing the music with the community that has been such an important part of my family’s story.”
Mr Tabone will be joined by a world class pianist, with each piece enriched by lush orchestral arrangements that capture the cinematic scale of Bocelli’s original recordings.
Adding to the excitement, this performance will feature special appearances by outstanding local guest artists, Amber Meeson, John Scanlan and Mark Connors, bringing regional flavour to the concert and celebrating local talent alongside Tabone’s international artistry.
From heartfelt ballads to soaring anthems, this tribute celebrates Bocelli’s extraordinary music while honouring Tabone’s own journey, from a North Queensland sugar cane farm to some of the world’s greatest stages.
The concert will begin at 2pm on Saturday 12 September. Tickets are available online at www.observer.s.gy/J2F8jO.
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