Why has it taken so long to lure you to Australia?

I always wanted to come to Australia. It was a dream of mine, but for one reason or another, my coming there was postponed or cancelled or not realised, but it is never too late and I’m very happy to come finally and sing for the Australian public in concert.

Juan Diego Flórez in a black turtleneck, seated at a table.

Juan Diego Flórez. Photo © Gregor Hohenberg

How did you choose the program?

Well, since it’s the first time I’m singing in Australia, the basic idea is to perform whatever shows me as the singer I am. So, there is a bit of what I have done in the past, which is mainly the bel canto [operas of] Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini. And then the second part is what I have been doing in the last years – mainly the French Romantic repertoire and Verdi and Puccini. I’ve been singing Romeo and roles like Werther, Des Grieux in Manon and Hoffmann, as well as roles in Verdi’s La traviata and Rigoletto. Also, I’ve sung recently in La bohème at Covent Garden and in...