The Romanian tenor is making his Aussie debut as Cavaradossi. But which operatic character would he most like to date?

1. Three operas you love most?

The most difficult question – I have much more than three operas I love. Sorry, but I have to choose three from Verdi, three from Puccini and three from the rest:

Verdi:

Otello, Macbeth, Don Carlos

Puccini:

La Bohème, Tosca, Turandot

The rest:

Giordano: Andrea Chénier

Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila

Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana

Teodor Ilincăi as Cavaradossi in Opera Australia’s Tosca. Photo by Prudence Upton

2. Three favourite tenors?

Franco Corelli, Aureliano Pertile, Giuseppe Giacomini.

3. Three favourite sopranos?

Virginia Zeani, Angela Gheorghiu, Joan Sutherland.

4. Your most memorable musical experience as an audience member?

La Bohème with Angela Gheorghiu at Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona

5. If you weren’t an opera singer, what would you be?

A Zoo Veterinarian or Oceanographer.

6. Three operas you could happily never hear again?

Berg: Wozzeck

Janáček: Jenůfa

Ravel: L’enfant et les Sortilèges

7. Funniest moment onstage?

La Bohème at Hamburg Opera House: Mimì enters with her candle already kindled, I blow to extinguish it, I fail and start to simultaneously laugh and sing.

8. Three favourite movies?

The Bucket List, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, As Good as...