Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena (born 1 November 1967) is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, musical theatre actress and record producer. She is one of Australia's highest-selling artists and has sold over 10 million records worldwide. Arena is multilingual, singing and recording in English, Italian, French and Spanish.
Arena has earned several international and national awards, including a BRIT Award, seven ARIA Awards and two World Music Awards for Best-selling Australian Artist (1996, 2000). In 2001, she was awarded a BMI Foundation Songwriting Award (Broadcast Music Inc) by the American performance rights organisation for co-writing "Burn" with Pam Reswick and Steve Werfel. In 2011, Arena became the first Australian to be awarded a knighthood of the French National Order of Merit, presented by the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, for her contributions to French culture, and ceremonially awarded by Frédéric Mitterrand, the Minister of Culture and Communication of France.
In 2015, Arena was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association ARIA Hall of Fame. On Australia Day, 26 January 2016, Arena was recognised in the Australia Day Honours and appointed a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia "for significant service to the music industry as a singer, songwriter, and recording artist, and as a supporter of charitable groups". In 2016 Arena was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
In March 2019, the Government of Australia appointed Arena as a board member of the Australia Council for the Arts for a three-year term.
Life and career
1967–1987: Early life and career beginnings
Arena was born in the Melbourne suburb of Keilor East, to Giuseppe "Joe" Arena and Francesca "Franca" Catalfamo (both from Valguarnera, Sicily), Sicilian immigrants, in Melbourne on 1 November 1967. Arena grew up in Keilor East with two sisters, Nancy and Silvana;
Arena's family call her Pina, which is her shortened first name. She changed her first name from Filippina to Tina, her stage name becoming Tina Arena, when she appeared as a child performer on the national television talent show Young Talent Time in 1976, at age 8. For secondary schooling, she attended a Catholic girls' college, St. Columba's College, Essendon, in Melbourne. Recalling her upbringing, Arena says, "It was a very Italian household, it was a very traditional household. There was a lot of love but there was a lot of discipline. And there was no room for pretentiousness. Really, there just wasn't." the producers at Lewis-Young Productions and Network Ten asked her to change her first name from Filippina to "Tina"—creating her stage name, "Tina Arena"—so as to be more relatable to the wider national audience. Initially appearing as a Young Talent Time contestant in 1974, Arena went on to permanently join the cast as a regular member of the show's Young Talent Team in 1976. She then quickly, and affectionately, became known on the show by her nickname "Tiny Tina". For her first appearance she performed ABBA's "Ring Ring".
As a member of the Young Talent Team, Arena appeared in TV specials, in TV commercials, at shopping centres and on tourist venues. In September 1982, she became a "coach" for new team members, Danielle Minogue and Mark McCormack; Arena told The Australian Women's Weeklys Debbie Byrne that "They seem to be settling down a lot quicker than I did. They both have a really professional attitude." At 14, she told Byrne "my aim: to be a recording artist and actress but, now, I have to concentrate simply on what I'm doing and that can take enough effort."
Arena left the Young Talent Time show in October 1983, ahead of her 16th birthday, due to the Network Ten Young Talent Time series age-limit contract stipulation to give way for younger members. Arena performed the songs "The Way We Were" and "MacArthur Park" for her finale set on her farewell Young Talent Time episode. Arena starred in Young Talent Time from 1976 to 1983—making her the show's longest-serving cast member.
Speaking at her BIGSOUND keynote address in 2017, Arena described her childhood to teenage experience on Young Talent Time as an inclusive apprenticeship into the television light-entertainment and musical industry in Australia, Arena noted:
<blockquote>It was 40 years ago and there were no ethnic faces on [Australian] television. It was an extraordinary apprenticeship. Young Talent Time was inclusive and welcoming. The only downside of Young Talent Time was when I was trying to transition to an adult. It had been recorded in the previous year with Brian Cadd producing at Flagstaff Studios in Melbourne. When the single did not appear in the top 50 her planned album was scrapped. She performed solo shows and in bands, including as a member of a nine-piece ensemble, Network. In 1987, she supported American artist Lionel Richie on his Australian tour which peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart. McFarlane described it as "uptempo" with the associated music video "projecting a raunchy disco-diva persona ... flaunting a pouting rock starlet with bouncing cleavage and attitude to burn."
The artist followed with another single, "The Machine's Breaking Down", in July 1990, which peaked in the top 30.
According to music historian Ed Nimmervoll, Arena "was not comfortable. This was not her. This was not what she wanted to be for the rest of her life. Tina went into seclusion while she decided what to do next, moving to Los Angeles to be a nobody again." In 1992 Arena sang background vocals on the debut album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Price, titled Heaven Knows, which was released in July 1992, and she appeared in the 1993 music video by Price for the single "A House Divided".
1994–1996: Second solo album – Don't Ask
Arena's second solo studio album, Don't Ask, was released on 14 November 1994. It was produced by David Tyson for Columbia Records. According to Nimmervoll, during recording "Tina nearly broke down. This was an all-important moment in her career."
Ian McFarlane noticed it demonstrated a "more mature, sophisticated, soul-tinged style and approach ... [and] her powerful, crystal clear voice more than adequately matched the material on offer." It peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart—a year after its release—and remained in the top 50 for 83 weeks.
Don't Ask was the highest-selling album of 1995 in Australia and one of the biggest-selling albums by an Australian female singer to date. The success of the record made her a "priority artist" for Sony, who marketed her in the US.
The lead single, "Chains", was issued ahead of the album in August 1994 and peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the 1996 ceremony she received five more nominations and won Highest Selling Album for Don't Ask. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic found the US version of the album showed that "Her own songs, co-written with a team of others, are perfectly good contemporary pop/rock, and she sings them with passionate commitment" and it was "brimming with potential hit singles (it spawned three in Australia)."
In Deep, in its different versions, provided ten singles, with the lead one, "Burn", appearing in July 1997, It was also a hit in Asia. Besides the English-language version she also recorded it in Spanish and Italian (in the form of "Ti Voglio Qui"). The second single, "If I Didn't Love You" (November) appeared in the ARIA top 50.
Arena's duet with US artist, Marc Anthony, "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You", from the feature film soundtrack for The Mask of Zorro (July 1998), gained her European chart success. It also reached the top 10 in Belgium and top 40 in Switzerland. It was certified 3× platinum by Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) in May 2001 for sales in France. "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You" had been issued in Europe in September 1998, it peaked at No. 3 in France—her first charting single in that market.
Arena toured the US from March 1999, to promote the album's local release, as well as another single, "If I Was a River", which did peak in the UK top 40.
Arena sang "The Flame" (written by John Foreman) at the 2000 Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics on 15 September. Seven Network covered the national broadcast across Australia, which become the highest rating TV telecast in Australian history. John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Vanessa Amorosi, Human Nature and Julie Anthony were some of the other Australian artists who appeared at the opening ceremony and contributed to the various artists' album, The Games of the XXVII Olympiad: Official Music from the Opening Ceremony (September 2000). She recalled, "When I sang at the Olympics, I cared about the fact that I was Australian. And I was touched because I was an ethnic girl, of ethnic blood but that WAS Australian. Because I was born here, this is where I grew up, this is where I learned everything." It was certified gold by ARIA and by SNEP (France).
To promote Just Me she showcased it for 150 people, mostly Australian TV and media personalities, in Melbourne. The record provided four singles including "Symphony of Life" (September 2002), which peaked at No. 8 in Australia and top 50 (as "Symphonie de l'âme") in France. She was featured on 2 (November 2002), a duets album from Olivia Newton-John for which the pair recorded an uptempo track, "I'll Come Runnin'".
In March 2002, Arena posed for a semi-nude photo shoot by James Houston for Black+White magazine. She explained, "This shoot isn't about shock value, and it's not porn, it's an elegant, understated and honest exercise in challenging my sexuality and learning to love myself again." She appeared in Cabaret in August that year in Sydney in the lead role of Sally Bowles. which reached number 1 on the US Billboard Dance Airplay Chart in October 2003. The single included seven house and electronic dance music remixed versions by various DJs. This was the first time three performers associated with Young Talent Time were simultaneously in the chart's Top 10 with Dannii Minogue's "I Begin to Wonder" and Kylie Minogue's "Slow" also appearing on the chart.
"Never (Past Tense)" was used on the US TV series, Queer as Folk, and on its associated soundtrack album (2003). The singer-songwriter performed the Tiësto remix with a new remix of "Dare You to Be Happy" live at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras after party in March 2005. By 2014 she had performed at the Mardi Gras for a fourth time: she is one of the gay icons of this generation.
In October 2004, Arena released Greatest Hits 1994–2004, her second compilation album, which peaked at No. 10 in Australia. The compilation provided a newly recorded track as a single, "Italian Love Song" (November), which reached the top 40. it peaked at No. 9 on the French charts and remained for 78 weeks. In February 2006, the single achieved platinum sales in France. The single peaked at No. 1 in Belgium and was a top 20 hit in Switzerland. A second single "Je m'appelle Bagdad" was released in June 2006, peaking at No. 6 in France and No. 8 in Belgium.
In 2006, she appeared on various European TV shows to promote the album and has appeared in Night of the Proms, Star Academy, Fête de la Musique, Les Enfoirés and the NRJ Music Awards where she performed her single, "Aimer jusqu'à l'impossible" (English: "Love Even the Impossible", November 2005) backed by her French contemporaries: Anggun, Leslie Bourgoin, Amel Bent, Nâdiya, Lââm and Natasha St-Pier.
2007–2009: Songs of Love and Loss 1 and 2
Arena returned to the London stage in April 2007, starring as Roxie Hart in the West End production of Chicago, at the Cambridge Theatre, West End of London. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that, "Arena is returning to the stage following the birth of her first baby, Gabriel, now aged 13 months. Arena will make her debut at the prestigious Cambridge Theatre in Covent Garden in April playing the infamous murderess who exploits the media to escape prosecution. Arena said she was "excited, if not a little daunted" about playing the role, which means Arena will have to dust off her dancing shoes for toe-tappers such as Razzle Dazzle and All That Jazz."
In 2007, Arena's sixth studio album, Songs of Love & Loss, was recorded independently and self-financed as she no longer had a recording contract in Australia. The album was issued on 1 December 2007 after a new deal was struck with EMI. It has torch songs, originally recorded by women in the 1960s and 1970s, including by Dusty Springfield and Diana Ross, and the arrangements featured a full string orchestra conducted by Simon Hale. A promotional tour of Australia, in early November, included appearances on Dancing with the Stars and Sunrise. Five concert dates backed by a 35-piece orchestra were held over December to January: three at the Sydney Opera House and two at Melbourne's Hamer Hall. The album peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart; The two performed duets of "The Prayer", "Canto della Terra" and a cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love". Prior to the tour she had been in the UK recording her eighth studio album, Songs of Love & Loss 2, it was released on 15 November 2008, and reached No. 12 in Australia. On 27 August 2008, alongside fellow Australian singer and songwriter Darren Hayes, Arena appeared as a guest judge during the London auditions of the sixth season of Australian Idol. She appeared again as a guest judge, on 16 November, while she was in Australia to promote, Songs of Love & Loss 2.
In March 2009, Arena toured Australia and appeared as a guest performer at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras party singing a medley of "Aimer jusqu'à l'impossible" and "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", accompanied by Alison Jiear on the latter. She travelled to South Australia to co-headline with US musician, Chris Isaak, at Barossa Under the Stars, an outdoors concert. Also in March 2009 her first French-language compilation album, The Best & le meilleur (English: The Best & the best), was released. The Peel Me Sessions, an album of original material recorded in 2003, was also officially released in May 2009.
2010–2011: French National Order of Merit and Tour de France
In January 2010, Arena and Irish singer Ronan Keating (of Boyzone) were co-headliners for an outdoor concert festival, A Day on the Green, at Swan Valley.
In January 2010, Arena released a live CD and DVD in Australia titled Live: The Onstage Collection The album peaked at No. 22 on the ARIA Albums Chart. This was unscheduled and came about because Arena was living in Paris at the time and offered her services only hours before the ceremony. It was the first time in the tour's history that a national anthem was performed live on the podium in front of huge crowds and a broadcast audience of millions.
In 2011, Arena was a judge on the French version of The Sing-Off TV singing competition program, alongside two other judges, French singer Michel Jonasz, and French artistic director of radio and television Nathalie André. The program was broadcast on France 2.
In 2011, Arena became the first Australian to be awarded a knighthood of the French National Order of National Merit, presented by the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, for her contributions to French culture, and ceremonially awarded by Frédéric Mitterrand, the Minister of Culture and Communication of France. After judging the talent shows, she finished her national Australian tour backed by various Australian symphony orchestras with Anthony Callea as a special guest. Arena detailed working on the tour: "They are precious, those moments where the orchestra swells behind you, they are difficult to describe in words and from an adrenalin perspective it is a sensational feeling." In November 2012, she issued her fourth live album released on CD and DVD, Symphony of Life, recorded at one of her Melbourne concerts. Arena's management is Beebox.
2013–2014: Reset, Now I Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars Australia
Due to the success of her Symphony of Life Tour, Arena added five extra shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra for February and March 2013, as part of her Encore Concerts. In July she performed two concerts at the Queensland Music Festival. One of these was a solo show backed by the Queensland Youth Orchestra performing her own hits and covers; and the other was with local artists, Christine Anu, Anthony Callea, Rick Price and Katie Noonan paying tribute to the Bee Gees.
Arena released her first English-language solo studio album in eleven years, Reset, on 18 October 2013, which peaked at No. 4 and became her sixth Top 10 album in Australia. It was released in both standard and a deluxe editions (with three extra tracks). It was certified gold in three weeks and then platinum in December 2013. Its lead single, "You Set Fire to My Life" (September), included both studio and acoustic versions; as well as three official remixes by Cosmic Dawn, The Slips and 7th Heaven—it reached the ARIA top 40. Also in October 2013 Arena published her autobiography, Now I Can Dance, written with Jude McGee, to coincide with the release of Reset and is now on its 4th reprint.
Arena performed at the G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala on 11 January 2014. On 14 March 2014, Arena appeared on Sunrise and performed "You Set Fire to My Life". Also in March, Arena appeared on So You Think You Can Dance Australia to perform her single, "Reset All" (December 2013), which was accompanied by a routine from two previous winners of the series, Jack Chambers and Talia Fowler.
2015–2017: Eleven, ARIA Hall of Fame and Australia Day honours
In May 2015, Arena issued Songs of Love & Loss in France. Her eleventh studio album, Eleven, was released on 30 October 2015. It was preceded in September by its lead single, "I Want to Love You". Arena premiered the single by performing on the live television show Dancing with the Stars on 4 September 2015.
Arena's album Eleven is so named because it is the 11th album of her recording career, but also because she likes its astrological implications, 11 being a figure of enlightenment and artistic sensitivity. Like its predecessor, 2013's Reset, Elevenis a pop-heavy collection featuring songwriting collaborations with, among others, Kate Miller-Heidke, Hayley Warner and Evermore's Jon Hume. The album was recorded in Sydney, Melbourne, London and Stockholm, as well as in Paris. The Eleven album is a mix of atmospheric electronica (Unravel Me, Overload), smouldering anthems (Wouldn't Be Love If It Didn't, Love Falls, Not Still in Love with You) and dance-friendly pop (Magic). Arena's most recent release, Eleven, became her seventh Top 10 album in Australia by debuting at No. 2 on the ARIA album chart in November 2016, and is now certified gold.
In September 2015, Arena hosted shows on SmoothFM Radio Stations from 4:00 pm every Saturday on Sydney's SmoothFM 93.5 and on Melbourne's SmoothFM 91.5.
On 25 October 2015, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced that Arena was due to be inducted into their Hall of Fame in the annual awards ceremony in November as a member of the Australian music industry ARIA Hall of Fame. Arena looked forward to enjoying the acknowledgment of her peers at the Australian music industry's gala celebration on 26 November 2015. She was quick to point out that receiving the honour doesn't mean she was entering the twilight of her career. "It's not the end," she says, "Not yet", adding, "I don't have another 40 years in me, I don't know how long it's going to last, but I'm touched by the recognition. It will be an emotional night".</blockquote>
On Australia Day, 26 January 2016, Arena was recognised in the Australia Day Honours, which the country's sovereign awards its citizens for actions or deeds that benefit the nation. Arena has been appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia—Order of Australia—in recognition of her contribution to the arts, representing Australia on the world stage and philanthropic work.
On 9 December 2016, Arena, in her capacity as the official ambassador, launched the 'Versailles: Treasures From The Palace' exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), located in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. The exhibit, which is said to be the most elaborate ever put on by the NGA, features 130 priceless works of 18th century of art flown to Australia from France.
On Australia Day, 26 January 2017, at the Australia Day Concert: Live at The Sydney Opera House, Arena joined a collection of Australia's best talent, including Guy Sebastian, Human Nature, Dami Im, children's group The Wiggles, and others, performing contemporary tunes and tributes to the great songs of Australia's past. The 2017 Australia Day Concert was a free public event, organised by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency. Arena, as one of Australia's most accomplished performers, with a career spanning several decades, said prior to the event, "Australia Day is a great opportunity to come out, eat some delicious food, listen to some amazing music and take part in the diversity that defines our country" and "I can't wait to be part of the day—to stand in the middle of the harbour, to sing with the harbour crowds and school choir, and give my own version of a salute to Australia".
In April 2017, Arena released her fifth compilation double album titled, Greatest Hits & Interpretations, released by EMI Music Australia. The album is a 2-CD set—the first contains 17 of Arena's hits; the second is an album of interpretations.The interpretations disc includes a duet with Dannii Minogue, singing with Arena for the first time since Young Talent Time.
Arena announced her Innocence to Understanding Tour in conjunction with the release of her Greatest Hits & Interpretations, starting in Brisbane on Wednesday, 6 September 2017, and concluding in early October. The title of the tour is a telling nod to her career journey, one of only a few artists who has been able to live four decades in music.
In early May 2017, Arena released her first fragrance, after working three years on the project, called Renaissance developed with Bertrand Duchaufour, one of the world's leading perfumers in Paris. Bertrand have come up with a high-quality Eau De Parfum combining ingredients sourced from Arena's three cultures: France, Italy and Australia, including sandalwood from Indigenous Australia.
In June 2017, Arena featured as the portraiture guest on the Australian TV series Anh Do's Brush with Fame aired on ABC. Arena shared journey from child star to international artist the challenges and sacrifices that have shaped her. Anh Do is a Vietnamese-born Australian author, actor, comedian, and artist. He was three-times a finalist in the annual Archibald Prize art award.
In September 2017, Arena featured as a keynote speaker at the Australian BIGSOUND Musical Conference. Now in its seventeenth year, BIGSOUND attracts more than 6,000 music fans and industry gurus who attend the event at Fortitude Valley, Queensland, for the more than 130 artists across 18 venues over three nights. Arena's keynote speech shared her experience and her advice for the changing face of the music industry, having been at the forefront of the Australian music scene for 40 years.
2018: Quand tout Recommence
After almost a decade away, Arena made a return to French pop music with a new 2018 French-language album, Quand tout Recommence (translates to: "When Everything Restarts"), set for an April release, to the francophone music market (primarily France) and also reaching audiences in Belgium and Sweden. Quand tout Recommence is Arena's third French-language studio album, and her twelfth studio album overall, since her francophone album, 7 vies, released in January 2008, which debuted at No. 12 on the official French charts; her highest debut in France.
The album title Quand tout Recommence translates to "When Everything Restarts". Arena has stated that when she records in the French language, she is careful not to record French versions of her English-language hits, as lyric meanings in French and English differ. Arena notes that too often the intention of the song gets "lost in translation", therefore she has always chosen to write in both languages.
On 17 November 2017, Arena released on digital preview platforms a new song recording, "Tant que tu es là" (translates as "As long as you're around"), as the lead single for Quand tout Recommence.
In an April 2018 interview with Webmedia SAS Pure Charts (France), Arena defined what pulled her into the French Pop music after a decade away, recording and performing in her homeland Australia and in selective international showcase tours, Arena explains, "I wanted to re-do music in French. Everything started from there with this project. The desire". She is motivated by the desire to reconnect with the success of her French Pop hits, "Go higher" and "Love to the impossible". On her 2018 Quand tout Recommence album, Arena offers ten new songs recorded in the language of Molière, L'ombre de ma voix (Translates to: The Shadow of My Voice"). The contents of songs on the record is quite varied. Recalling her former residency in French Pop Music, yet, her inaugural entry on the French Music Charts was in 1998, and was her first French platinum record. Arena concludes, ""I miss the connection with the French public. It was time. With all that happened." Good, is what happens with Arena, and France.
On 16 February 2018, Arena released on digital preview platforms the next single, L'ombre de ma voix ("The Shadow of My Voice"), from her new album Quand tout Recommence.
On 6 April 2018, the new French-language album, Quand tout Recommence was released on the francophone market, with the album peaking on the French album chart Top 150 at No.62, and also peaking on the Belgium album chart at No.46. The two single releases and the complete album, Quand tout recommence, are now available to download and stream worldwide.
In February 2018, Arena featured as the portrait guest in an episode of the Australian TV series Anh Do's Brush with Fame with comedian and artist Anh Do, on the ABC network. Arena shared her journey from child star to international artist, reflecting on the challenges and sacrifices that have shaped her.
In June 2019, Arena was nominated in the category of Best Female Actor in a Musical at the annual Helpmann Awards for her lead role performance as Eva Perón in Evita. She was nominated alongside Luisa Scrofani, Natalie Abbott and Ursula Yovich. The award was won by Yovich for Barbara and the Camp Dogs.
On 6 September 2019, Arena appeared as a guest performer and speaker with indigenous Australian artist Deborah Cheetham, a soprano, actor, composer and playwright, at the 2019 Melbourne Writers Festival. The two artists spoke about how music shapes them.
Arena performed at the Sydney Coliseum Opening Week opening program in December 2019. Originally launched as the Western Sydney Performing Arts, the Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West H.Q.
In December 2019, Arena performed at the Good Things music festival. Arena will join the festival line-up as a cameo guest artist, along with Lisa and Jessica Origliasso of the Veronicas.
Arena filmed a supporting role, as Rosalba, in the Australian film Promised (2019), directed and co-produced by Nick Conidi. She co-stars with Paul Mercurio, Antoniette Iesue and Daniel Berini.
In 2023, Arena appeared as Plante Carnivore (Carnivorous Plant) on Mask Singer, the French version of The Masked Singer.
2018 Evita: Australian tour production
The Opera Australia 2018 national tour, Evita, was the 40th-anniversary restaging of the original Harold Prince production. Prince's production won seven Tony Awards when it moved to Broadway after originally opening in London's West End, and it became the template for subsequent productions of the musical for the following quarter of a century. The musical charts Eva Perón's life from an ambitious teenager, through her career as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946, until her death in 1952 at the age of 33. It includes some of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's best known material, including "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina".
Casting
On 21 August 2017, Opera Australia announced that Arena would be taking on the lead role of Eva Perón in the 2018 Australian touring production of Evita. The tour opened at Sydney Opera House, in the Joan Sutherland Theatre, on 13 September 2018, with the season running to 3 November 2018. It subsequently moved to the Arts Centre Melbourne from 5 to 30 December 2018. Arena said that she was "terrified", but described the role as "a precious gift for myself and for any female performer". She said that she felt "blessed to work with someone who has had the kind of career that Hal Prince has had". Arena also says she felt the time was right to tackle the role: "I have been approached to do this role on a couple of occasions. I never felt emotionally ready for it. I felt I had a lot of living and learning before I could get up and take on the enormity of the story and the human spirit she possessed." Arena expressed of knowing about Eva Perón since she was a little girl, and feeling privileged to be able to recount the story and embrace the complex role.
On 7 May 2018, Opera Australia's artistic director, Lyndon Terracini, along with producers John Frost and David Ian, announced the full cast for the upcoming Australian production of Evita. With Arena announced in the lead role as Eva Perón, the remainder of the cast was announced as: Paulo Szot, Brazilian operatic baritone, and winner of a Tony Award for best actor on Broadway 2008, in the role of Juan Perón; Kurt Kansley (The Lion King, Rent, Godspell, Show Boat) will take on the role of the revolutionary Che Guevara. Michael Falzon (We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess) will portray tango singer Agustín Magaldi, while the role of Perón's Mistress will be played by Alexis van Maanen. Jemma Rix (WICKED, The Wizard of Oz) has been cast as the alternate Eva Perón and is currently scheduled to be appearing in the role at least once a week throughout the Sydney season, according to the Evita-Australia website.
On 21 July 2018, Terracini, along with producers John Frost and David Ian, announced the 18 young performers who have been cast in the upcoming production of Evita, in season at the Sydney Opera House from September 2018. Three sets of six children will alternate in ensemble roles.
Arena on Eva Perón
In taking on the titular role of Eva Perón in Evita for Opera Australia, Arena commented to the ABC's Limelight magazine that she was "terrified", but described the role as "a precious gift for myself and for any female performer". She said that she felt "blessed to work with someone who has had the kind of career that Hal Prince has had". Arena also notes that she felt the time was right to tackle the role:
<blockquote>I have been approached to do this role on a couple of occasions. I never felt emotionally ready for it. I felt I had a lot of living and learning before I could get up and take on the enormity of the story and the human spirit she possessed. I don't think I was ready in my 30s to play Eva Perón at all. Playing the role of Eva Perón at 50, is much more suited to the life experience that I have had.</blockquote>
Arena talked of knowing about Perón since she was a girl and about feeling privileged to recount the story and embrace the complex role. Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported that "Arena soars in a sublime performance of the First Lady of Argentina. Even those who don't know the musical Evita, are probably familiar with the song 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' and it was at this point on opening night that Arena really powered into her own as Eva Perón."
National tour: Arts Centre Melbourne
The Victorian tour leg of the Evita tour was at the State Theatre at the Arts Centre Melbourne in December 2018. Claire Spencer, CEO of the Arts Centre Melbourne, noted that "It is fantastic to have such an accomplished cast, including cherished global star Tina Arena perform Evita at Arts Centre Melbourne. Tina is particularly close to our hearts as one of the 'Patrons of the Australian Music Vault' at Arts Centre Melbourne."
Critical reception
On 19 September 2018, the ABC's classical music and arts magazine Limelights theatre reviewer, Angus McPherson, gave a four-star review of Evita at the Sydney Opera House. The review, "Evita – Tina Arena gives us a vocally high flying Evita in Hal Prince's original production", stated that, "The role of the tough, ambitious, Evita isn't an easy sing, and it comes with baggage—anyone taking it on is walking in the footsteps of the likes of Elaine Paige, Patti LuPone and Madonna (in the 1996 film with Antonio Banderas)—but Arena proves herself more than equal to the vocal demands. She doesn't have the heavy belt of a LuPone, but she's got a deliciously sultry low register and she handles the lighter high notes with confidence, letting rip when it's called for—her rallying oration in 'A New Argentina', buoyed by the chorus, is a rousing finale to the show's first act. Brazilian opera singer Paulo Szot, brings a magisterial baritone to Juan Perón. Arena comes into her own in the second act, with highlights including the show's hit Don't Cry For Me Argentina (in quite a broad rendition), as well as Rainbow High, Waltz for Eva and Che and You Must Love Me—which was written for Madonna in the film and inserted here, Arena alone onstage, 'in concert' style. The show ends on a sombre note, and if Evita's final moments don't quite hit home emotionally, her assumption of power is thrillingly done, Arena's vocals capturing her commanding power and charisma."
In February 2019, it was reported that the production had become the highest-selling show ever staged at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne.
In June 2019, Arena was nominated in the category of Best Female Actor in a Musical at the annual Helpmann Awards for her role as Eva Perón in Evita. Arena was nominated alongside Luisa Scrofani, Natalie Abbott, and Ursula Yovich. The award was won by Yovich for Barbara and the Camp Dogs. She is multilingual: she speaks and sings in English, Italian and French; and also sings in Spanish. Her singing style is characterised as between R&B and ballad.
Numerous media and musical contemporaries have praised Arena's skill as a world-class singer. Music journalist Ed Nimmervoll commented that Arena "has a voice that can give you goosebumps", William Yeoman of The West Australian commented that "Arena's voice is redolent of both youthful pop and mature cabaret." The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's monthly classical music and arts magazine, Limelight, commented that, "Tina Arena is a performer with a supreme voice, boundless range and energy, and charm to spare." Kelsey Munro of The Sydney Morning Herald says that her voice is "strong, smooth and pitch-perfect." Spiritworks Australia says, "Whether she's singing spine-tingling renditions of contemporary classics by Lulu, Dusty Springfield or Blondie or her self-penned hits Sorrento Moon, Chains or Burn, Tina Arena is acclaimed as one of the world's most versatile and magnificent vocal interpreters. Her voice is smooth, rich and streaming with emotion."
The Queensland Music Festival team says, "Tina sparkles with vivacity and class, possessing an outstanding vocal range and a voice that belies her petite stature—endlessly powerful and always resonant with heart and honesty." Queensland Music Festival artistic director, James Morrison said "Tina Arena has one of the most amazing voices I've ever heard." Time Out magazine had a brief description of Tina's voice as it says, "Tina Arena truly boasts two incredible assets—her voice and her versatility ..." Sharyn Hamey, an online music reviewer says that "Arena has an angelic, beautiful and a powerful voice."
Fellow Australian celebrities have praised Arena's vocal prowess with Delta Goodrem saying, "Her voice has strength whilst keeping its feminine warmth to draw you in." Melbourne singer-songwriter, Michael Paynter hailed Arena as "simultaneously the most natural and supernatural female Australian voice ever. She is technically and emotionally perfect, but somehow always has enough of a sniff of imperfection and rawness to make you not only believe every word, but be hanging off them too." Ricki-Lee Coulter also says that "She has so much control and power". Missy Higgins also commented that, "Tina Arena is one of our best singers ever. She could sing the balls off anyone, and she's miniature." Brian Mannix says, "Tina Arena has a tasteful voice. She sells the lyrics with her big voice but never over-sings." Birds of Tokyo frontman Ian Kenny says, "Tina Arena can sing the shit out of anything, and do it in four different languages!" Anthony Callea added, "Technically, she is faultless and her tone is unique and warm. I love that she goes against all the 'singers' rules'—I've seen what she eats and drinks before a gig!"
Arena records songs and albums in English, French, Italian and Spanish. She has stated that she does not record French versions of her English-language popular hits, because too often the intention of the song gets "lost in translation"; therefore, she has always chosen to write in both languages.
Younger artists have covered Arena's songs in singing competitions, such as the winner of the second season of Australian Idol, Casey Donovan, who recorded Arena's "Symphony of Life" for her album For You and both Filipino artist Sarah Geronimo and Australian Anthony Callea, who admits to being a fan of Arena's, recorded "I Want to Know What Love Is" including the bridge that was written specifically for Arena's version. Sarah De Bono who came in at fourth place when she joined The Voice Australia also recorded Arena's "If I Didn't Love You." Filipino artists Nina and Christian Bautista recorded a duet version of "Burn" that appeared on Nina's album Nina Live! while Regine Velasquez did a live performance on Philippine television. Erik Santos and Sheryn Regis also recorded their version of Arena and Marc Anthony's duet, "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You".
In 2001, Arena was awarded a BMI Foundation Songwriting Award (Broadcast Music Inc.) by the American performance rights organisation for co-writing "Burn" with Pam Reswick and Steve Werfel. As of July 2014, Arena has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
In 2015, Arena was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association ARIA Hall of Fame at the 2015 ARIA Awards ceremony.
Personal life
During her career, Arena has lived in the United States, France and the United Kingdom.
In December 1995, Arena married her then-manager, Ralph Carr, who had been her manager since 1992. Their divorce was finalised in 1999, while they settled their financial and contractual matters in February 2002.
In the late 1990s, Arena relocated from Australia to live in Paris, France. In 2000, Arena met the French artist Vincent Mancini with whom she has a son, Gabriel Joseph Mancini, born in 2005.
In October 2012, after almost two decades of living in France and London, Arena, together with her partner Vincent Mancini and their son, moved from Paris, France, back to Melbourne, Australia.
In 2019, Arena stated to MOZA Music, "I've been fortunate to have been around the pre-digital world. My story's unique, I'm aware of that and don't take it for granted. How do I define success? I define it by the fact that I'm still around; and that I've managed to survive".
Views
Music industry politics
Arena has been a supporter of female artists in the music industry, particularly celebrating the long-term careers of mature women artists. Arena believes we should embrace and celebrate ageing and not fall victim to ageism—especially in the music industry where mature women are not seen as viable or relevant.
To the British newspaper The Guardian, Arena described herself as somebody with "certain points on the board"—someone who has been "tenacious, resilient, hung around for a long time" and "done everything in their power to hone their craft". It is from the place—as one of Australia's great musical dames—that she makes abrasive critiques of what constitutes a career in music today. "I've struggled with the phantasmal aspect that has been a part of what we do" she says. "The fact that it has been really glamourised, glorified, also dumbed down as well." Thus, she argues that the music industry has been peddling shoddy wares, saying "It's a business template they've used. They've told people that you can be a star and sold that dream to everybody. I think it's been a huge irresponsibility".
In December 2016, in the Rolling Stone video series Her Sound, Her Story: Tina Arena, she discusses how the music industry squanders women as both they and their careers mature. "You've got to give me a really damn good reason why somebody, who is in the prime of their career and are doing really good work, why on earth they should stop? Are you going to tell a male who is at the top of his game in whatever domain, that he needs to step down and retire?". Speaking to series creators Michelle Grace Hunder and Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, Arena goes on to talk about the importance of female solidarity, mentioning how competition between women can be (and has been) dismantled by supportive relationships and encouragement of other women. Arena says "Get out of the ring. Take your boxing gloves off. Be convinced in the argument of your thoughts and your dreams."
Time's Up movement and the Australian music industry
In December 2017, Arena joined over 600 high-profile female artists from the Australian music industry—including Missy Higgins, the Veronicas, Sarah Blasko, and Jenny Morris—in signing an open letter called #MeNoMore demanding change in the music industry, in support of Time's Up to fight workplace sexual harassment and assault. The authors of the open letter stated they are motivated to organise the letter as an Australian response to the #MeToo campaign movement triggered by the accounts of sexual abuse in the wider entertainment industry. Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group responded with words of support.
Following the January 2018 creation of US Time's Up campaign by a collective of Hollywood female artists to fight workplace sexual harassment and assault, Arena joined with more than 30 high-profile women from the Australian media and entertainment industries—including Deborah Mailman, Sarah Blasko and Danielle Cormack—to spearhead a new national organisation, NOW Australia, led by broadcaster Tracey Spicer, to tackle sexual harassment, abuse and assault in workplaces across Australia. On Twitter, the Australian #MeToo campaign has encouraged stories of workplace harassment and assault following her public call-out on Twitter in October 2017.
In March 2018, in support of the Time's Up and #MeToo campaigns, Arena authored an op-ed article titled "The music industry must join us with #thetimeisNOW", published by News Corp Australia. Arena state her views on how the Australian music industry has enabled "a stagnant perspective towards females". Arena stated future social goals in the op-ed, that "We need to raise the bar of our emotional intelligence because this is not a whinge, it's not a social media trend, and NOW Australia is going to keep the issue of sexual harassment at the forefront and do everything we possibly can to change the mentality that allows it to happen. We've got a lot of work to do here."
Anti-lockdown sentiments
In September 2021, Arena appeared on Australian daytime television program Studio 10 to highlight the disparity between the art community and sporting events in relation to COVID-19. During this interview, she advocated that the arts sector should no longer support charitable causes and that Victorian lockdowns should be ended. Arena cited as her reasons in the interview the double standards in how the arts and sports are treated, as large scale music events are cancelled "but never the footy match" and her belief that no one wants to help out the artistic community after "the artistic community has done what they needed to do and always rolled up our sleeves".
Memoir
Arena's memoir, Now I Can Dance, published by HarperCollins, was released on 14 October 2013 in hardback, paperback and eBook format. Arena authoured her memoir with co-writer Jude McGee. The text is billed by HarperCollins as "Honest and intimate, funny and frank", adding: "Now I Can Dance is the long-awaited memoir from the very special, much-loved singer, songwriter and pop diva, Tina Arena." She told Kathy McCabe of News Corp Australia that "I don't need to put a book out to put food on the table. It started to dawn on me in the last year that I have had an unbelievable life and I want people to know it's been hilarious, there's been a lot of laughter in my journey."
The title of her memoir is taken from the third single, "Now I Can Dance", from Arena's third studio album In Deep (1997). The track was written by Arena while living in L.A. and is a love letter from her to her family, as she explained in her memoir. The song was successful in her native Australia, reaching No. 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation shop described Tina Arena's memoir as an "honest, gritty, funny, frank and totally revealing memoir from much loved songstress Tina Arena, who is about to celebrate a phenomenally successful 40 years as a singer-songwriter."
HarperCollins said, "Tina has amassed a cache of amazing stories. The artist who gave us "Chains", "Sorrento Moon" and "Symphony of Life" has sold eight million albums, won a swag of awards, encountered extraordinary people, fallen in and out of love, and experienced incredible highs and lows."
In 2017, Arena updated her memoir with the release of a new edition of Now I Can Dance with new content covering her relocation from France back to Australia, being inducted into the 2015 ARIA Hall of Fame, the release of new music, and new musical ventures.
Charities
Arena has used her fame to help several causes and is a patron to two charities in Australia: child protection organisation Barnardos, and Soldier On, which supports rehabilitation for veterans. In her support, she is an official patron for a charitable organisation Soldier On, which assists mentally and physically wounded Australian soldiers. Arena said, "It's vital that Australian soldiers have access to support when they return from overseas, and 'Soldier On' will make a much needed difference in the lives of wounded veterans and their families. 'Soldier On' is the first charity of its kind in Australia and I am honoured to be a Patron."
In July 2013, Arena performed at the Melbourne Asbestos Cancer Fundraiser, which donated funds raised to support Mesothelioma research undertaken at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre and the Austin Hospital, Melbourne. She was also a participant, with partner Damian Whitewood, in the 13th Australian season of Dancing with the Stars which commenced in September 2013 and nominated Barnardos Australia as her charity; the pair finished in third place.
Arena took part in Australia's biggest TV charity appeal, Telethon, in Perth on 20 October 2013. On 21 December 2013, she opened Sydney's annual Carols in the Domain concert with "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and performed her single "Reset All" at the closing of the event. She has also performed at several benefit concerts, including Live 8 in Paris and for Queensland Flood Relief in 2013.
Arena, reflecting on nearly 40 years in the music industry, relates all of her achievements back to her Australian beginnings: "If it wasn't for Australia, I would never have been able to have been catapulted internationally and to have done the things that I've been able to do. It was because of Australia that I've done that". she told AAP, in 2013.
|-
| 1986
| The Flying Doctors
| Miss Broken Hill
| An Australian drama series where Tina Arena played as Miss Broken Hill
|-
| 1991
| All Together Now
| Vanessa
| An Australian sitcom where Tina Arena played as Vanessa
|-
| 1994
| Rugby League Grand Final
| Tina sings "Advance Australia Fair"
| TV special
|-
| 1995
| AFL League Grand Final
| Herself
| Arena performed "Waltzing Matilda"
|-
| 1995
| Waltzing Matilda: The Song That Shaped a Nation
| Herself
| Video documentary
|-
| 1998
| Tina Arena – In Deep In Concert
| Herself performs live concert
| Channel 9 TV special
|-
| 1998
| Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration
| Herself
| Arena performed "Whistle Down the Wind" as a tribute to Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber for his 50th birthday.
|-
| 1999
| VH1 Presents Donna Summer: Live and More ... Encore!
| Herself
| Arena performed "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with the late Donna Summer. The performance and the song received praises from the media and was later included on Summer's live album, Live & More Encore.
|-
| 2000
| Laws
| Herself
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 2000
| 2000 Sydney Olympics Games Opening Ceremony
| Herself
| TV special Worldwide broadcasting was done for this event as Arena sang the Olympic song, "The Flame"
|-
| 2005
| Live 8
| Herself
| Performed "Come Together" with Craig David and her own French hit single, "Aller plus haut"
|-
| 2008
| Australian Idol
| Herself
| Arena appeared as a guest judge together with ex-Savage Garden member, Darren Hayes. She later on appeared as a mentor for the Idols' Choice week to the remaining top 3 contestants
|-
| 2009
| An Audience with Tina Arena
| Herself
| Arena performed songs from her Songs of Love & Loss albums as Australian media and other celebrities watched and asked her questions in between performances
|-
| 2010
| Who Do You Think You Are?
| Herself
| Season 3, Episode 3 – The episode featured Arena travelling to Sicily to discover her ancestral roots and family secrets
|-
| 2012
| Young Talent Time
| Herself
| Arena appeared as a mentor to the new YTT team and a judge for the talent quest portion of the show
|-
| 2013
| Dancing with the Stars
| Herself
| Arena won third place during the 13th season of the Australian franchise.
|-
| 2017
| Anh Do's Brush with Fame
| Herself
| Season 2, Episode 8 – The episode featured Arena as portrait artist Anh Do's guest. Arena shared her journey from child star to international artist and the challenges and sacrifices that have shaped her. In November 2015, she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the annual awards ceremony.