World-renowned Australian lyric tenor and West End superstar, Paul Tabone has signed on as an ambassador of the groundbreaking not-for-profit nostalgic broadcasting service, Silver Memories.
Aptly dubbed “Australia’s own Bocelli”, Mr Tabone, 33, has returned to Australia after four years and 1800 shows performing in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in London’s West End, and has been confirmed to reprise his role for the Opera Australia’s new production for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.
From his humble beginnings as a descendent of Italian immigrants growing up on the sugarcane fields of Far North Queensland, Mr Tabone was invited by Signora Nicoletta Mantovani (wife of Luciano Pavarotti) to perform in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,000 at the world-renowned Verona Arena in Italy, alongside operatic icons, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Ambrogio Maestri.
Mr Tabone was also invited to perform by the Pavarotti Foundation, in a tribute concert for the late Luciano Pavarotti at the New York City Centre on Broadway.
He has performed internationally in both opera and musical theatre, in roles including Duca Di Mantova in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Opera Naţională București (Romania), Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for the Teatro Del Giglio (Lucca, Italy), and has performed Tony in West Side Story at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova, Italy.
Mr Tabone’s album debut came in 2021 in the form of classical-crossover album ‘This Is Me’, which features his own take on an eclectic mix of songs featured in popular musical and cinematic soundtracks, which is now topping the Classical Music Charts in Australia, United Kingdom and the United States.
Award-winning broadcasting service, Silver Memories is a specialised 24/7 nostalgic music service providing reminiscence music therapy for older Australians helping to combat the severe loneliness experienced by older Australians, something sorely needed with the everchanging conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The service is designed to help residents spark conversations, feel re-connected, reminisce and recall memories, and improve quality of life,” said Silver Memories General Manager, Gary Thorpe OAM.
“Silver Memories is 100 per cent backed by research and clinical studies, proving the service is highly-beneficial to older Australians, carers and aged care staff alike.
“Research shows that around one in four Australian seniors are affected by social isolation, and our service is proven to show a significant improvement in quality of life and depression for residents at aged care facilities after listening to Silver Memories for 12 months as part of their regular activities.”
Not just a one-dimensional service, Silver Memories is committed to expanding its range of services by offering roadshows, resources, a revolutionary app and live shows to Australia’s elderly community – and also intends to engage further ambassadors in the future.
The live “roadshows” complement the unique Silver Memories 24/7 nostalgic music broadcasting service by taking the announcers and team out of the studio, and directly to the people.
“It’s such a treat to see the joy in the faces of the aged care residents, smiling, laughing, clapping, waving, dancing, tapping their feet and reminiscing – that is exactly what the Silver Memories service is all about,” said Mr Thorpe.
Silver Memories has been supported by the Australian Medical Association (QLD) and Alzheimer’s Australia (QLD) who use the unique service as part of their Dementia Behaviour Management Service (DBMAS).
For more information about Silver Memories, please visit: www.silvermemories.com.au
