Young Italian Tenor Vittorio Takes America By Storm With His Self-Titled Debut CD Released September 12th on Decca

Young Italian Tenor Vittorio Takes America By Storm With His Self-Titled Debut CD Released September 12th on Decca

Disc Showcases Powerful Love Songs With a Classical Flair, Including Special Guest Appearance By Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls

Vittorio: Dreams of Rome Premieres this August on GREAT PERFORMANCES on PBS

NEW YORK, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- International recording artist, Vittorio Grigolo, arrives in the U.S. this fall with a stunning self-titled debut album, VITTORIO. Slated for release on September 12th (Decca), the album was one of the highest classical chart debuts ever for a new artist in the UK, landing him in the Top 10 alongside the likes of Andrea Bocelli. Now, this astounding collection of stirring ballads and powerful love songs establishes the 28-year-old as the next male crossover singer poised for stateside success.

Born in Rome but raised in Arezzo, near Florence, Vittorio has developed a reputation as one of the most talented young singers of his generation. Dubbed "Il Pavarottino" ("Little Pavarotti") by the press after Vittorio and Pavarotti appeared together in a performance of Tosca in Rome, Vittorio was well on his way with the kind of career most artists only dream about. At the age of 23, he was the youngest Italian tenor ever to sing at La Scala (Bernstein's West Side Story), and was soon performing Mozart, Verdi and Rossini throughout Europe, Japan, and America.

Word about Vittorio's talents quickly reached Simon Cowell, who was so impressed by Vittorio that he wanted him to be a member of IL DIVO. Vittorio declined Cowell's offer in order to establish himself as a solo artist, while still pursuing his passion for opera. While "popera" artists proliferate left and right, Vittorio has been recognized as uniquely motivated whose ambition is matched only by his talent.

Vittorio and Thirteen/WNET New York's GREAT PERFORMANCES have teamed together for an exciting special taped in Rome for broadcast in August on PBS (check your local listings). VITTORIO: DREAMS OF ROME was shot on location at the Roman ruins of Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, capturing Vittorio in peak concert performance, featuring selections from his debut album along with other opera favorites. Highlights of both the disc and the special include "Maria" from West Side Story, Brit pop music group Keane's "Bedshaped (Cosi), and Stevie Wonder's "All In Love Is Fair."

"He has a voice to die for, very mellow despite all that Italian emotion and expression," says Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, who recorded "Il Mio Miracolo (You Are My Miracle)" with Vittorio for the new album. "He's very young to be a working tenor but you can tell immediately he is the real thing." Adds the music journal Hitsheet, "If the buzz surrounding (him) is anything to go by then 2006 is going to be Vittorio's year."

Source: Universal Music Classics Group

CONTACT: Olga Makrias of Universal Music Classics Group, +1-212-333-
1485, Olga.makrias@umusic.com; or Victoria Varela of PMK/HBH, +1-212-373-6117,
Victoria.varela@pmkhbh.com, for Universal Music Classics Group

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