[ ClassicalX ] Patrizio Buanne at Trump Taj Mahal

WHO IS HE: Patrizio Buanne spent his childhood in Naples, Italy, and Vienna, Austria, learning music and winning singing competitions.

After performing for Pope John Paul II and a crowd of 85,000 in Poland in 1997, Buanne was able to land a recording contract. His first album, "The Italian," was made up of romantic Italian songs, and Buanne was accompanied on the recording by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In October 2006, Buanne performed in front of President Bush at the NIAF gala in Washington, D.C. The singer's second album, "Forever Begins Tonight," was released in South Africa in July 2006 to coincide with a concert in Carnival City. It was eventually released in the U.S. in April 2007.

WHAT TO EXPECT: With his dapper style of dress, handsome Mediterranean features and deep baritone voice, Buanne is everything you'd expect from an Italian singer. He's managed to enjoy success around the globe with his blend of nouveau and retro Italian sounds, selling more than a million albums in the process. Buanne cites Mario Lanza, Dean Martin, Al Martino, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett as his initial musical influences, and he tries to carry the same sort of grace with him to the stage that these musical luminaries did. Known as "The Voice of Romance," the 29-year old carries with him the spirit of a bygone era, yet his music never sounds dated.

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $22.50 and $45.50. The show begins 9 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at the Xanadu Theatre, Trump Taj Mahal.

Source: Press of Atlantic City