A lover of "bling" and fast rides, the 30-year-old Grigolo — whose debut album In the Hands of Love is out now — is the latest tenor to invade the "popera" market dominated by supergroup II Divo, Andrea Bocelli and Russell Watson.

And, if a certain American Idol judge had his way, Grigolo would have entered the music scene even sooner.

"Simon Cowell invited me to join II Divo a few years ago but I wasn't ready then," the tenor told Today over the phone from Rome. "But now, I am ready and I made the album because I wanted to connect with more people through my music."

It was just as well that the singing star chose to go it alone. Having joined the Sistine Chapel choir at the age of nine, Grigolo has more than enough credentials to stand on his own.

Of course, it helps that his dark Latin looks and pop star lifestyle are fast winning him fans outside elite opera circles.

"I'm a bad guy, a rebel," said Grigolo with a hearty laugh. "People think classical musicians are very strict but I'm very passionate, I like to be free."

In fact, so confident is Grigolo of his standing in the opera establishment that he even put a positive spin on the banning of his debut album — which includes his take on contemporary songs such as Keane's Bedshaped — from entering the United Kingdom's Classical Charts.

The reason? It was deemed "not classical enough" by music purists.

"I love it that the album is not on a classical chart because it's not meant to be: This is popera, I want to keep it light," said the tenor. "I'm not afraid to lose credit because if you do it the right way, you will learn and gain rather than lose."

And while Grigolo hopes to work with the likes of Robbie Williams and Michael Buble some day, he is already on the lookout for a rapper to collaborate with on his next album.

Hip-hopera, anyone?

Source:Channelnewsasia