Raffaele, aged 25, studied singing and organ as a chorister in Lodi Cathedral, Milan from the age of seven under Maestro don Pietro Panzetti, musical director of the Cappella Musicale della Cattedrale di Lodi. In 2004 Raffaele continued his vocal studies with the Romanian male soprano Cezar Florin Ouatu, then in London with Colin Baldy. Raffaele has participated in masterclasses with Marco Beasley and Sarah Walker. In 2008 he was cast in the principal role in the UK premiere of Cefalo e Procride by G.Bononcini. He has also received critical acclaim in his alto solo performaces of Handel's Messiah and Mozart's Requiem in December 2009. He has been awarded by Sir John Eliot Gardiner with the Monteverdi Choir apprenticeship scheme. From September he has appeared as a soloist in various tours and projects for Monteverdi choir including Monteverdi Vespers for BBC Proms from the Royal Albert Hall.