His operatic talents are lauded the world over and his resume reads like that of a standard over-achiever.

He is the youngest person to have performed at the La Scala in Milan, has been dubbed "Little Pavarotti" by the legend himself, and is the only Italian male to have been exempted from military service for the sole reason that no one deemed it appropriate to halt his unbridled talent.
Who is this man? If you have never heard of Vittorio Grigolo, perk up those ears right now because he is on the verge of becoming a huge megastar. While he is extremely popular in Europe, the situation is quite the reverse in our neck of the woods. Yet, the winds of change are slowly blowing his way, and it is only a matter of time before he becomes a household name across the globe.

In an exclusive phone interview with FACES, Vittorio gives us a peek into the life he has led and the path he is currently pursuing.

Over the phone, Vittorio is warm and friendly with a sexy but not overly strong Italian accent. The rangy tone of his voice sends my heart into palpitations of ecstasy, and I fumble with my first question, the words flowing out of my mouth at break-neck speed.

Vittorio laughs good-naturedly "Please, please speak slower," he pleads, and I oblige. The questions and answers flow at a steady, companionable pace and as the interview progresses, I find myself falling in like with his humble, unassuming nature and good-humoured approach to the interview.

Vittorio Grigolo was born in 1977 (that's right, he's only 30 this year!) the only child of opera loving parents. From a very young age, he was reared on a staple of music of that genre. "It was strange, going to school every day with opera music playing in the car," he recalls. The influence of his uncle, an operatic tenor, only added to his burgeoning interest. "When I was young, about 4 years old, I heard my uncle's voice and thought "I want to sing like that!" So I started practising very, very hard." he says.

All that practice paid off and at the ripe old age of 9, Vittorio was given a spot in the renowned Sistine Chapel Choir. Things only got better for him when he was invited to sing Tosca with Pavarotti. The maestro was so impressed with his performance that he anointed him his heir apparent, bestowing him with the nickname "Il Pavarottino" or "Little Pavarotti." Then at 23, he created a record of sorts by becoming the youngest person to perform at the acclaimed La Scala in Milan.

I ask him if he ever feels the pressure to live up to expectations, what with Pavarotti literally passing the mantle down to him and all. He sighs a little and says, "I have always been in training for opera. In opera, we are always waiting for something special to happen to us. The meeting with Pavarotti was great for me and I think he has given me a very big legacy to carry on with. So, yes, I do feel the pressure a bit."

As if the demands of performing opera were not enough, in 2005, Vittorio decided to branch out and produce an album. His debut album, In The Hands of Love was released in Britain in 2006. It went to the Top Ten in the British charts and introduced to him a wider audience in Europe.

Vittorio's album marries the musical cultures of traditional opera with the thriving ground of pop. The uniting of pop and opera (popularly called popera) is not a new event as many have tried their hand at it. Josh Groban, Il Divo and Andrea Bocelli are the more familiar names in the market that have all gone on to be commercially successful in the field.

Opinions are divided on this particular branch of music, with some music critics lambasting the tacky, romantically sappy offerings that are served up and others acknowledging that the fusion is pleasant to the ears of the non-opera initiated. Yet, if the reviews are anything to go by, Vittorio has successfully bridged the gap between mass appeal and staying true to his roots. His motivations for doing the album show that he plans on making a clear imprint in the music world. "If I had just continued doing opera, no one outside of Italy would have known me. Making the album allows me to connect with people all over the world." he explains.

Yet, there were some purists in the classical music scene who were none too pleased about his departure from the more conventional vein of opera. The Classical Advisory Panel in England banned his album from the Classical Albums Chart for not being classical enough. Vittorio remains non-plussed about such incidences, "It doesn’t bother me at all. I wanted to use my classical training, and the energy and feeling which comes with the territory and mix it with pop, which is younger and fresher. I was 29 at the time, and I wanted to establish a bond with people my age." he says. "Besides," he quips, "There are some English singers who have no opera or classical training and they are in the classical chart!"

Vittorio describes his experience recording the album as a wonderful time in his life. "It was such a nice feeling hearing my voice through a microphone. I felt that I could play with it and inject lots of passion into my performance." I ask him if he extended the same passion in his duet, You Are My Miracle, with Nicole Scherzinger (of The pussycat Dolls fame). He chuckles and says "I met Nicole in Los Angeles and we fell in love with the same music. I sent my song to her and asked her if she would sing with me. When she came back to Los Angeles again, she said "Yes." It was really funny because on the first day of recording, she came in and said "Do I have to sing like an opera singer?" He laughs over the line.

I am curious about any form of chemistry that might have existed between quite possibly two of the most gorgeous people on the planet and ask him if he was ever distracted by her beauty. He sounds a little embarrassed over the phone and mutters something I cannot hear. When I ask him if he can repeat himself, he exclaims "she is sooo hot! I think you can tell from the song that my concentration was focused on her, not the music."

I feel it is now quite safe to broach the subject of marriage and starting a family, and ask him whether either one is on the cards for him anytime soon. "If I find the right woman, why not?" he says, sending rays of hope to his millions of adoring female fans around the world.

I ask him about the other love in his life-cars. It is well-known that Vittorio is a huge car aficionado, having nearly embarked on a professional career in motor racing, before an injury forced him to rethink that route. I imagine the string of sporty type vehicles he is about to regal me with, but instead he tells me about his Porsche prototype. "It is a very special car," he enthuses with obvious glee. "I work on the car and am rebuilding it on my own. Nobody else has a car like this, you know."

I am immediately bowled over. An opera singer who is working on his own car! I want to press him further, yet all too soon, the interview is over. I thank him profusely and ask if he will be coming to Malaysia anytime soon. "Invite me!" he says. "I would love to come to Malaysia and perform there."

So, keep your calendars open, because if we're lucky, he really might come down and treat us to a wondrous feast of good looks and even better talent.

Source:Sinchew-i