Vittorio Grigolo

Vittorio Grigolo (b. February 19, 1977, Arezzo, Italy) is an Italian singer.

Grigolo was born in Arezzo, but raised in Rome. He began singing by the age of four. When he was nine years old he accompanied his mother to have her eyes tested and, hearing someone singing from another room, he spontaneously began his own rendition of "Ave Maria." The singer, the optician's father, was so impressed that he insisted Grigolo have an audition for the Sistine Chapel Choir as soon as possible. Young Vittorio was chosen to become part of Sistine Chapel Choir as a soloist. He then studied for five years at the Scuola Puerorum at the Sistine Chapel. At age 13 he played the Pastorello in a performance of Tosca at Rome's opera house, where he shared the stage with Pavarotti; becoming known as 'Il Pavarottino'. When 18, Vittorio joined the Vienna Opera Company. He became the youngest man to perform in Milan's La Scala at age 23. He is the first Italian male to be excused compulsory military service on account of his promising careerFact|date=February 2007; and also raced Pre-3000 Formula cars for a while until an accident limited his opportunities in this field.Vittorio sang in performances of the Barber of Seville, La Traviata, Così Fan Tutte, Faust, and many others before taking the life-changing role as Tony in West Side Story. Sharing the stage with James Gandolfini, he saw the potential of opera to reach a wider audience. After almost becoming a member of Il Divo, he recorded a solo album, In the Hands of Love, in the genre he calls "Popera." It features the song "Maria" from West Side Story as well as pop songs like "All In Love Is Fair" and "Bedshaped." The Classical Advisory Panel of England kept the album out of the classical charts, defining it as precisely 35.7 percent classical (a minimum of 60 percent is required for entry in the classical charts). In the Hands of Love debuted in the Top Ten of the U.K. pop charts instead.

Album History

Vittorio’s debut album "In The Hands of Love", of Pop/Opera genre, entered the British charts at number 6; setting a new sales record and confirming him as the leading classical solo artist. The album contains renditions of Keane's “Bedshaped”, “Maria” from West Side Story, Stevie Wonder's “All In Love Is Fair” and a duet with Katherine Jenkins entitled “You Are My Miracle”.

The album was launched in the US in September 2006 entitled simply "Vittorio". The US version of the duet “You Are My Miracle” features Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

The Album was released in Australia on October 23, 2006.

Vittorio Grigolo and Hayley Westenra recorded "West Side Story" as "Tony" and "Maria" in conjunction with the Leonard Bernstein Foundation, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this great American musical. West Side Story entered the UK Classic FM Chart at number 1

Vittorio's new album will be released in Spring 2008.

Awards and Nominations

Awards

The commission of the European Union granted Vittorio Grigolo and Romano Musumarra a European Border breaker Award, along with the record company, authors and publishers who have recorded the highest sales for a debut album in 2006 within the European Union, but outside of their country of production.

The Capri / Hollywood Film Festival granted Vittorio Grigolo a "Capri Exploit Music Award" . The award ceremony took place on January 1st, 2008 on the island of Capri where Vittorio also performed a tribute to Leonard Bernstein.

Nominations

*Grammys 2008 Best Musical Show Album - "West Side Story (musical)"

Classical / Opera appearances 2008

Grigolo is confirmed to appear as listed below

* 6th - 2nd March/April 2008 "Gianni Schicchi" by Puccini - Teatro alla Scala, Milan
* 28 - 30 March 2008 "Requiem" by Verdi - Valencia, Palau de les Arts
* 16 - 22 June 2008 "Don Carlos" by Verdi Grand Theatre de Geneve
* 17 - 19 July 2008, "Requiem" by Verdi. Festival D’Orange
* 13 - 28 September "Lucia Di Lammermoor" by Gaetano Donizetti - Zurich Opera House

Live appearances

* In April 2006 Grigolo made his debut with a concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, he returned to the RAH to appear alongside such singers as Placido Domingo and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, at the 'Classical Brit Awards' evening, performing arias taken from his repertoire.

* In July 2006 Grigolo performed “Bedshaped” at the 2006 Miss Universe competition in the USA.

* In September 2006 Grigolo appeared alongside Lionel Richie at 'Proms in the Park' London, England.

* In September 2006 Grigolo performed at the Macy’s Passport fashion and charity events in the US, where he was the only musical entertainment, performing in front of a combined audience of 10,000.
* Also in September 2006 Grigolo appeared on the US television series "Dancing with the Stars".

* Vittorio will start a promotional tour of Australia in October 2006.

* On October 16, 2006, Grigolo appeared in ABC's reality TV series "The Bachelor".

* On November 14, 2006, Grigolo appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" in Australia.

* October 2007 Grigolo performed "Nessun Dorma" at the NIAF 32nd Gala Dinner, Washington DC, in tribute to Luciano Pavarotti.

Discography

DVD

Recorded at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, Italy. A live performance of tracks from his album, as well as a few additional pieces. The DVD was recorded specifically for the Great Performances series on PBS TV USA.

Grigolo plays Cassio in Giuseppe Verdi Otello recorded at Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona 2006

Latest Opera / Classical appearances

*'Camillo de Rossillon' in "La Vedova Allegra" at Roma Opera House, Rome December 2007

*'Rodolfo' in "La Boheme" at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, DC September 2007.

*"'Stabat Mater" by Rossini. Sydney Opera House Australia, May 2007

*'Alfredo' in "La Traviata" at Roma Opera Theatre April 2007

*'Cassio' in "Otello" at the Licieu, Barcelona Feb 2006.

*'Il Duca de Mantova' in "Rigoletto" at Hamburg State Opera, Sept/Oct 2005.

Repertory

*Verdi: "Messa da Requiem"/"Falstaff"/"Rigoletto"/"La traviata"
*Donizetti: "L'elisir d’amore"/"Don Sebastiano"/"Don Pasquale"/"Favorita"/"La fille du régiment"/"Lucia di Lammermoor"
*Bellini: "Puritani"/"Capuleti e Montecchi"
*Zandonai: "Francesca da Rimini (Malatestino)"
*Puccini: "La Rondine"/"La bohème"/"Gianni Schicchi"
*Gounod: "Faust"
*Rossini: "Petite Messe Solemnelle"/"Stabat Mater"
*Mozart: "Requiem"/"Don Giovanni"/"Idomeneo"/"Così fan tutte"
*Cilea: "L’Arlesiana"
*Richard Strauss: "Der Rosenkavalier"
*Massenet: "Werther"/"Le contes d’Hoffmann"
*Mascagni: "Amico Fritz"
*Léo Delibes: "Lakmé
*Bernstein: "Candide"/"West Side Story"
*Franz Lehár: it. "La Vedova Allegra" aka "(The Merry Widow / "Die lustige Witwe")

External links

*Official Site - http://www.vittoriogrigolo.com/
*Italian version - http://www.vittoriogrigolo.it/
*Popera site - http://www.vittoriomusic.com/
* [http://www.opinionepubblica.org/spettacolo/9-video-traviata-angela-gheorghiu-e-vittorio-grigolo-franco-zeffirelli-opera-di-roma-2007_2/ VIDEO from Traviata] (Roma Opera Theatre, 2007)
* [http://www.classicalx.com/Vittorio_Grigolo.html Vittorio Grigolo section on ClassicalX]