Long live Dolce Vita' might be the motto of Patrizio Buanne, Italian-Austrian singer of Neapolitan origins who will perform at the Roy Thomson Hall on April 13.
The passion for music has never left him, not even when a very young Patrizio went to live in Vienna with his family. His parents opened a pizzeria where Italian and Neapolitan music permeated the atmosphere. Despite his young age - he was born in 1978 - Patrizio has already produced a golden record. His first album, The Italian - published in Italy as Il mondo, an old hit by Jimmy Fontana in both its Italian and English version - sold very well, and made it onto top ten lists in the United Kingdom.
Patrizio sold over a million copies, performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded his songs in the Abbey Road studios made famous by the Beatles.
"Right after emigrating," explains Buanne, who's visiting Toronto for the second time. "I felt prouder than ever of being Italian. I don't wear jackets with Italian flags patched on," he jokes. "I live in an Americanized world too, where people eat hot dogs and hamburgers. I live like every other young man. But those people must realize that our culture is rich, beautiful and ancient. It's the culture of music and entertainment. Very often, people associate Italian music with opera, because of singers like Andrea Bocelli or Luciano Pavarotti. But that's not all. It would be like saying that Italian food is only spaghetti and pizza. What I do might look like old news; the songs I sing can be found in record stores at cut rates. But I feel like an ambassador of Italian music, a new voice representing Italian culture. That's it, an ambassador, who brings Italian uniqueness abroad. Let's not forget that You don't have to say you love me, for instance, was an Italian song, Pino Donaggio's Io che non vivo. My music is not so pop as Eros Ramazzotti's, nor as classical as Bocelli's. Right now, there's no one who is coming close to my genre."
In 2006 he enjoyed even more success. His second album, Forever begins tonight, includes songs written by Buanne himself. He's now on tour, promoting his album all over the world; the next stops will be Boston, Chicago, New Zealand and Australia. He'll have Giorgia Fumanti as a special guest.
For my tour, I chose a Canadian supporter, Matt Dusk," continues Buanne. "Often, I've been compared to another Canadian singer, Michael Bublé. I've been asked whether I envy him, but I don't feel any envy at all. I feel closer to Dean Martin. What do I expect from Toronto? People love my music and me. I wish they come out from my concert satisfied but especially with a smile on their lips."
Source:Tandem
