Who is Paul O’Neill?
I am an operatic Tenor, husband, father of five and recently a Fish and Chip shop owner called High C’s in Coolbellup.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I like people, cooking and creating in high-pressure situations so I probably could have become a chef. But to be honest with you, being an opera singer is the best job in the world.
Who inspires you and why?
Anyone who is better than me at something inspires me. How are they doing that? How can I improve to be like that? But also young people who ask me for help or advice. It makes you take stock of what you’ve achieved and how that can be passed on to someone else like it was to you.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Do all things with love, which is for the sake of others. From the smallest thing to the largest. Do it with even greater love.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I don’t have much time for holidays but when I do it is normally somewhere quiet with the family and no technology. Camping or Kalbarri.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to and why?
Depends on the friend and the amount of children. Anything from Adventure World to a winery with an obligatory stop at High C’s Fish and Chips.
What are you currently reading?
Currently, I am just pouring myself into music scores. There are some new operas I will be singing next year which brings me to…
What are you currently listening to?
I am listening to, and really enjoying I might add, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Verdi’s Il trovatore which are both being presented by West Australian Opera (WAO) next year. Madama Butterfly is an exquisite opera and one of the few times the tenor gets to play the bad guy and Il trovatore was the first professional opera I was ever a part of, also with WAO, but this time I will be playing the lead.
I’ll also be performing some Puccini this month as part of Opera in the Quarry and as part of a special celebration with the Italian Consulate of Perth at Garum in The Westin Perth. We will be paying tribute to Puccini at his birthplace Tuscany, with An Operatic Journey through Tuscany at Garum; with Tuscan food, wine and some of Puccini’s most popular arias.
Happiness is?
Singing those fantastic operas here in Perth with our great West Australian Opera for our wonderful audiences.
What does the future hold for you?
Besides Fish and Chips and singing with WAO. I will be singing some other concerts in Perth and Melbourne and I have an exciting project in the works in Europe.
Paul can be seen performing at Opera in the Quarry from 14 – 16 November and An Operatic Journey through Tuscany at Garum on 21 November 2024. For more information, visit: www.waopera.asn.au for details.
Image: Paul O’Neill (supplied)