After attending the Conservatory of Alessandria, he refined his skills with tenor Andrea Elena, becoming his pupil. He carried out an intense concert activity both in Italy and abroad. He participated in several international singing competitions, achieving excellent results: he won the 15th “Spiro Argiris” Competition, part of the Sarzana Opera Festival, and the “Enzo Sordello” competition in Cuneo, which led to him being cast for the role of Rodolfo in G. Puccini’s La Bohème.
Matafù's eclectic vocality sparked interest, earning flattering praise from renowned artists such as soprano Daniela Dessì, tenor Fabio Armiliato, tenor Nicola Martinucci, soprano Renata Scotto, and tenor Luigi Alva, who also offered valuable advice and encouragement for the continued success of his career. The enthusiasm he stirs in the audience, who applaud him with conviction, serves as a remarkable calling card that demonstrates the undeniable value of the artist.
In November 2015, he made his debut as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Teatro Cantero in Chiavari, conducted by Maestro Stefano Giaroli. In October 2015, he performed at several concerts at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, attracting attention and interest and securing the role of cover for Rodolfo in La Bohème.
In March 2016, he played Ismaele in Verdi’s Nabucco at the Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari. The same month, he made his American debut as the Duke of Mantua in Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at the International Opera Center of America in Orlando, Florida, with orchestra direction by Maestro Bill Doherty and staging by Andrea Elena.
In 2017, he was cast for a tour where he performed as Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata. Many prestigious French theatres highlighted his excellent performance, which received widespread acclaim from both the audience and critics. Later in 2017, he reprised the role of the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto staged at the Royal Palace of Colorno in July and in Pavia in September.
During 2028, numerous concerts saw him performing in various parts of Italy, including in Verdi's territory, where, under the direction of Maestro Silvano Frontalini, he performed in honor of the Swan of Busseto.
In May 2019, he was invited to audition for Maestro Ezio Bosso, who chose Rino Matafù for the demanding tenor role of Stabat Mater by Gioachino Rossini. The performance, organized by the Pavarotti Foundation, took place in the Cathedral of Todi, receiving great success and satisfaction from Artistic Director Nicoletta Mantovani, wife of Luciano Pavarotti.
In November 2019, he made his debut in Spain in the leading role of Gustavo (Riccardo) in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera at the Teatro Campoamor in Oviedo.
From 2020 to 2022, the pandemic forced a halt in Matafù's professional activity. However, after the end of Covid, he started again from scratch, performing concerts in various locations, invited by opera associations in Emilia Romagna.
In July 2022, he performed at the Zibello Theatre (province of Parma, Terre Verdiane) for the 8th anniversary of the death of tenor Carlo Bergonzi, in the presence of Mrs. Bergonzi, the great tenor’s widow. During the same period, he performed in Busseto, at the Tebaldi Museum, in celebration of the centenary of the birth of the great soprano Renata Tebaldi.
In January 2023, for the anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi’s death, he was invited to sing at the Barezzi House/Museum in Busseto, a prestigious and flattering invitation.
In April 2023, he once again performed as Rodolfo in La Bohème at the “Centro Cultural Amaia” in Irún (Spain - Basque Country), under the direction of Maestro Aldo Salvagno.
Upcoming engagements include:
- June 18, 2023: Lyrical recital with opera arias and Italian and Neapolitan songs, as a tribute to the great Enrico Caruso.
- July 11: Moncalieri – “Three Tenors” concert conducted by Aldo Salvagno.
- August 27: Lyrical recital under the direction of Maestro Aldo Salvagno.
- October 29: Alfredo in La Traviata at the Dal Verme Theatre in Milan.
In the early months of the next year, he will perform again as Rodolfo in a La Bohème tour in the United States with the European Lyric Theatre.
Recently, in collaboration with his brother Valerio, a distinguished guitarist, Rino Matafù has dedicated himself to releasing various music videos, in which he performs a diverse repertoire in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese. These works, circulated on the internet, have garnered numerous views and positive appreciation.
