Bio
"She's the seductive song-wielding siren with a voice
snatched for the gods!"
Balena Canto (she/her) is a seductive song-wielding siren with a voice snatched for the gods! Born on the southern coast of Italia, Balena Canto sang out to sea conjuring a passing humpback whale who took her to a distant and mysterious land called “Philadelphia.” Balena's favorite thing about her home is a local delicacy called, "water ice" (helps soothe the singer's throat). Balena’s mission in life is to bring joy, laughter, and perhaps a tear or two (she is an opera singer after all) to her audiences through song. She firmly believes in the transformative and healing power of music and the performing arts. She has already made a name for herself performing in many of the leading shows and competitions in the Greater Philadelphia area including her own drag opera extravaganza, Fach Off which she co-hosts with Good Judy, Zsa Zsa Dali every quarterly at Philly’s Tabu! She is also a frequent cast member in Cleo Phatra's Gay Bill, Wednesday night's at Philly's Tavern on Camac! Just like the iconic Whitney Houston, Balena believes that, “the children are our future,” and frequently hosts Drag Queen Story Times at many of the area's libraries teaching the next generation about diversity, self love, creativity and acceptance. If you're interested in hiring/collaborating with Balena, please see visit our "contact" page.
Current Events
Balena frequently performs as a special guest at Cleo Phatra's Gaybill throughout the year! In 2022, she will apear on: 3/23, 4/27, 5/25, 10/5, 11/30. Additional dates TBD.
Saturday, August 6th Seating at 11 am Show @ Noon: Join Balena Canto and her divine divas (Mandy Mango, Nickihanna, and Lamia) for a fun, festive, and DELICIOUS summer and diva themed drag brunch at Philly's South House. Tunes provided by DJ Brettzo! Click the above image for tickets and more info!
Saturday, August 6th @ 3 PM: Balena joins the cast of this Charity Drag Festival benefiting the Nurse Morgan Helps booth at Drag Con LA 2023. A portion of this event will be donated to The Attic Youth Center. Great drinks, local vendors, tons of local performers, and Roxxxy Andrews from Ru Paul's Drag Race!
Thursday, August 11th Runway @ 8 pm Shows @ 9 pm: Join Philly drag legend, Lamia the Cursed Queen and her cast of hellish ghouls at Tattooed Mom for a gothic horror themed drag extravaganza!
Tuesday, 09/13/22 from 10pm -1am Balena joins Roxanne Rohls and Ophelia Hotass as their special guest performer at Off the Rail Karaoke at Split Rail Tavern (West Chester, PA)
Past Events
Friday, July 22nd Doors @ 8 pm Shows @ 9 pm: Opera after Dark presents a bold spectacle of fun, diverse performance in classical music. Hosted by the vivacious Balena Canto with a cast of Philly based opera singing drag, burlesque, and queer vocalists! Our venue for the evening is Philly's hottest speakeasy performance space, The Velvet Whip. For tickets, please click on the above image!
Thursday, July 14th Doors @ 7 pm Bingo @ 8 pm: Join host, Balena Canto and her cast of gorgeously fierce queens for a night of bingo, raffles, prizes, performances, and fun at Manayunk's Cresson Inn! Tickets are $10 online (click the above image) or $15 at the door.
Sunday, July 3rd Doors @ 8 Shows pm @ 9 pm: Balena joins the cast of Philly's Iconic drag show, Sinful Sunday's hosted by the legendary, Goddess Isis. Click above for more info and tickets!
Thursday, June 30 @ 8 pm: Join Balena and her incredible cast as we pay tribute to our favorite 90's cult tv classic, Twin Peaks! There will be shows, trivia, games, prizes, and special drinks, so come join us in the red room, but don't forget - Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see, one chance out between two worlds, fire WERK with me! Click the flyer above for details
Sunday, June 26 @ 3 pm: Balena visits St. Peters Church (3rd & Pine Phila, PA) sharing books on diversity, acceptance, creativity, and love. Click image for more info!
Saturday, June 25 @ Noon: Our favorite Drag Queen, Balena Canto, returns to the Ann Arundel Public Library (Brooklyn Park) for an in-person storytime - sharing books on diversity, acceptance, creativity, and love. Wear your dancing shoes and whatever else makes you feel beautiful for this special event celebrating Pride Month. Click the above image for more info!
Join Balena Canto and her cast of queens for at Media's State Street Pub for a Sunday funday! Eat delicious brunch, be entertained, and play FREE bingo where you can win amazing prizes!
June 16-18 @ 8 pm: Balena is THIRLLED to returns to It's Not Personal, It's Drag this year as a core cast member. See her all 3 nights along with a star studded cast of local drag performers hosted and produced by Meg Cutting. Complete with lip syncing legends, dancing divas, themed cocktails and electric performances. Bring $ingles to tip! Upgrade to VIP seating for the best experience! Mature content: guests must be 18+ to attend and must be 21+ to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. Click the flyer for tickets!
Saturday, June 11 @ 3 pm: Balena performs at Upper Darby Pride's Drag Show Extravaganza! The festival starts at 1 pm and our show begins at 3pm at the lot right outside of Upper Darby High School's gym! Click the flyer for more info!
Saturday, June 11 @ 12:30 pm: Balena visits the Narberth Park Narberth's 1st annual Pride Festival! Join Balena in the Girl Scout Room for ongoing crafts and drag queen story time! Click the above image for further information!
Friday, June 10 @ 8 pm: Esme Eventide and Balena Canto team up to co-host an all Jazz tribute at The Painted Mug! This months guests are the incredible Mo Betta and Quinton Lewis! For tickets and information, click on the above image! Space is limited, so reserve your spot now!
06/04/22 @ 9 pm: Join hosts Balena Canto and Zsa Zsa Dali with a cast of extra special guests for an all live singing variety show of operatic proportions! Click the flyer for tix!
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Friday June 3rd @ Noon: Balena Canto returns to the Penn Wynne Library for Drag Queen Story Time! Click the above image for details!
Charlene DeLizzio (AMP's mom) and the rest of the DiSabatino clan are celebrating AMP's Bday at Rivers Casino! Click photo for details and tickets!
05/04/22 doors @ 9:30 shows @ 10 pm Celebrate "Star Wars Day" with Balena Canto and a cast of incresible performers in a
drag and burlesque tribute to all things Star Wars! Click the image for details!
04/23/22 @ 7 pm Special Guest, Balena Canto joins Narberth Community theater for Drag Queen Designer Bag Bingo! Come out to play and win lots of prizes and be entertained by the seductive song-wielding siren herself! Click image for details and tickets!
Sunday, 3/13/22 from @ 8:30 pm
Balena joins a stunning cast of burlesque artists in a dreamy and surreal sing-n-strip show at Franky Bradley's!
Tuesday, 3/8/22 from 10pm -1am Balena joins Roxanne Rohls and Ophelia Hotass as their special guest performer at Off the Rail Karaoke at Split Rail Tavern (West Chester, PA)
Balena joins the cast of Devil Drag this month on Friday, 2/25
doors @ 9 pm show @ 10 pm at Philly's Tabu!
Photo
Promos & Poses
Performance Stills
Artistic Renderings
Video
Live Singing
Song Parodies & Sketch Comedy
Digital Drag
News
Matthew sits down with Voyage Baltimore Magazine to discuss their life and career as a classical singer and a drag artist! Click the above image to read their exciting interview!
12/27/2021: A clip from my interview with The Empowered Musician where I talk about being able to fulfill my queer opera dreams this past summer as Melissa in Alter Ego Chamber Opera's unique and stunning production of Alcina REVAMPED! Thank you so much for the feature!
11/05/2020: Soprano and Host of Fermata Fashion, Rachel Sigman sits down with opera singer and drag performer Matthew Maisano aka Balena Canto as they discuss the intersecting worlds of opera and drag, inclusivity and growing up to be the person you were meant to be.
11/05/2020: By Vinnik releases a coluratura cape in limited edition print, "Balena"
09/22/2019: Balena Canto interviewed by Now This after protesters demonstrated outside of her drag queen story time for children at a local library.
07/2/2019: All hail the (drag) queen of story time
Coverage and praise for Anne Arundel County Public Library's DQST with Balena Canto
06/16/2019: Hundreds Turn Out for Drag Queen Storytime in Haverford Delaware County Times Article about the incredible turn out and support from the community for Balena Canto's Drag Queen Story Time in Havertown, PA.
06/11/2019: Drag Queen: Performance is a Lesson in Diversity Delaware County Times Article with Balena Canto explaining the importance of Drag Queen Story Time, and why the show must go on despite opposition.
08/18/2018: "Anne Arundel's drag community looks to
build visibility with events like Drag Queen Storytime"
(Capital Gazette, Danielle Ohl)
Article about Matthew's first ever Drag Queen Story Time
as "Balena Canto"
