Renowned Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo will perform in Yerevan for the first time on October 21 at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex. He will be accompanied by the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of its artistic director and principal conductor, Eduard Topchjan.
The concert, initiated by physician and cultural figure Vahan Vardapetyan, is part of the orchestra’s 100th anniversary season and the 17th Yerevan International Music Festival.
At a press conference in Yerevan on Monday, the speakers included Vittorio Grigolo, Eduard Topchjan, Alessandro Ariosi — Grigolo’s manager and founder of Ariosi Management — and Vahan Vardapetyan. Vardapetyan described the upcoming concert as a “culminating moment” of the jubilee season.
Grigolo, performing in Armenia for the first time, said he met Maestro Topchjan for the first time that day and spoke warmly about Armenia. “Armenia is so close to my heart, you cannot even imagine — it’s even a part of my body,” he said, adding, “I won’t reveal too much, but I have a part of Armenia in me.”
He then showed journalists an Armenian-language tattoo on his hand, saying: «?? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ? ???????, ?? ??? ????? ??…» (“I saw love for the first time and realized that you are the one.”)
Grigolo said he admires Armenian culture and the sound of the duduk, adding that he has listened to “Dle Yaman” and believes it is essential to understand a nation’s history and culture through its music. He also surprised reporters by singing a line from Razmik Amyan’s “Sirem Qez Lianam.”
Known for his electrifying performances, Grigolo regularly fills concert halls, stadiums, and amphitheaters around the world. His repertoire for the evening will include some of the most beloved and popular modern and classical songs and melodies, featuring “Volare,” “My Way,” “Arrivederci Roma,” “Caruso,” and “The Show Must Go On,” concluding with the famous “Cavaradossi” aria.
Celebrated worldwide, Grigolo has performed at leading opera houses — from Milan’s La Scala and New York’s Metropolitan Opera to London’s Covent Garden and Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón. He has shared the stage with musical legends such as Sting, Brian May, James Taylor, and Luciano Pavarotti, as well as renowned Armenian opera singers Hasmik Papian, Lianna Haroutounian, Nina Minasian, Juliana Grigoryan, Barsegh Tumanyan, Gevorg Hakobyan, and David Babayants.
His acclaimed recordings for Sony Classical, including his gold and platinum debut album of Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” have earned Grammy nominations and topped international classical charts.
Photo by Panorama
