Vittorio Grigolo

Vittorio Grigolo (b. February 19, 1977, Arezzo, Italy) is an Italian singer.

Grigolo was born in Arezzo, but raised in Rome.

He began singing by the age of four. When he was nine years old he accompanied his mother to have her eyes tested and, hearing someone singing from another room, he spontaneously began his own rendition of "Ave Maria." The singer, the optician's father, was so impressed that he insisted Grigolo have an audition for the Sistine Chapel Choir as soon as possible. Young Vittorio was chosen to become part of Sistine Chapel Choir as a soloist. He then studied for five years at the Scuola Puerorum at the Sistine Chapel.

At age 13 he played the Pastorello in a performance of Tosca at Rome's opera house, where he shared the stage with Pavarotti; becoming known as 'Il Pavarottino'. When 18, Vittorio joined the Vienna Opera Company. He became the youngest man to perform in Milan's La Scala at age 23. He is the first Italian male to be excused compulsory military service on account of his promising career; and also raced Pre-3000 Formula cars for a while until an accident limited his opportunities in this field.

Grigolo sang in performances of The Barber of Seville, La traviata, Così fan tutte, Faust, and many others before taking the life-changing role as Tony in West Side Story. Sharing the stage with James Gandolfini, he saw the potential of opera to reach a wider audience.

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