History & Culture
Entertainment
On Tour with Patrizio Buanne
Angela A. Williams
contributing writer
Having sold millions of albums worldwide with his unique approach to contemporary and romantic songs of his Italian
homeland, Patrizio Buanne has become one
of the world’s biggest touring acts in his field.
Dubbed as “The Ambassador of
Dolce Vita” by his fans, this fall Buanne
performed
several
concerts
in
the
U.S. When I was offered to accompany
Patrizio on his tour for this story, I didn’t
hesitate. Check one off my bucket list.
Buanne is well-known for his engaging
and spectacular performances, having previously performed for luminaries such
Pope John Paul II, a U.S. president and
royal families.
Yet, once he steps on
stage, one can instantly recognize what
sets him apart from other great artists:
his natural intuition for performance,
his ability to create an instant rapport
with his audience and his legion of fans.
He is not only truly adored by his
devoted supporters, interacting with them
playfully throughout the show, but he gives
them permission to let loose and have a
little fun. He keeps the action moving by
inviting a gaggle of young women on stage
to accompany him in an impromptu performance of “Bella Bella Signorina.” Many
audience members and fans were rewarded
with a red rose for their dedication. While
one loyal fan announced she was attending
her 88th Patrizio concert, another was
serenaded by Buanne. He learned that
she was celebrating her 90th birthday.
Amid all the mingling with audience
members and fans alike, the 35-year-old
crooner continued to impress his audience
by connecting various cultures through his
music and singing in various languages (he
can speak and sing fluently in six languages).
He further reminded his audience that he’s
capable of crafting his own material. Early in
the nearly 100 minute set, Buanne delivered
his own original material such as Forever
Begins Tonight and This Kiss Tonight and
later introduced a recent hit single, the selfpenned and upbeat, Solo Tu (My Baby).
But his setlist was, as expected and highly
anticipated, dominated by contemporary
interpretations of classic hits from the Italian
songbook, which is Buanne’s trademark.
Among the highlights he performed in
both English and Italian were “Il Mondo,”
“A Man Without Love,” “Parla Piu Piano
(Theme from the Godfather),” “Mambo Italiano,” and “On the Street Where You Live.”
Still, he showcased his amazing talent as
an entertainer-singer performing rock ‘n’ roll
standards while playing the guitar and piano.
Yet Buanne was at his best when he chose
songs interpreted with his own “flavor and
sauce” such as his smooth personal rendition
of Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” and the
Willie Nelson/Patsy Cline love song, “Crazy.”
“Like Chris Botti, Celine Dion and
Tom Jones, I’m always searching for that
same timeless quality in a song, conveying
the sentiments of my music with my own
romantic, European approach,” said Buanne.
And what about that music? Not surprisingly, it was performed impeccably by
an impressive assembly of astute musicians, whom Buanne has personally chosen
as the best and the brightest in their
musical field. They did not disappoint.
The Movie
Lobster Fra Diavolo
Paul Sciria
Managing Editor
The film Lobster fra Diavolo starring
native Clevelander Kaye Ballard
(Catherine Gloria Balotta) is scheduled to be shot in Rancho Mirage, Ca.,
New York and the Washington D. C.
metro area over the next few months.
Based on true events, the film
follows nipote (granddaughter) Angie,
a vegan, who goes shopping for the
live lobster. Nonna needs to prepare
a traditional Italian dish for the Feast
of the Seven Fishes on Christmas
Eve. Despite feeling that she was
going against everything she believes,
Angie will not mess with no-nonsense Nonna (Ballard) and buys the
lobster. End of story? No! The lobster
has plans other than winding up the
main entree on Nonna’s holiday table.
20
This Christmas, Nonna has met her
match, and Christmas Eve cascades
into a raging tide of belly-laugh
goodies. The movie is not only sidesplitting but also examines the tension
between retaining family traditions and
accepting changing social attitudes.
Native west side Clevelander
Ballard has been a singer, actor and
comedian for six decades. Born in
1926 to immigrant parents Lena
(Nacarato) and Vincenzo, Ballard lives
in Rancho Mirage, California in the
home she purchased from Desi Arnaz.
Jane Barbara is the screen writer and
producer of several feature films. She is
currently the Vice President of Women
in film and TV in Washington, D. C.
Oriana Oppice is a New Yorkbased actor, producer and director
who was born in Palermo, Sicily.
She has starred in several films and
TV shows, and also directs and
produces
independent
movies.
A Madonna and Child from
Thirteenth-Century Lucca
Stephen N. Fliegel
Curator of Medieval Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art
Buanne left the adoring and packed
crowds wholly entertained. Overheard on
the way out of the venue in Youngstown, “It
wasn’t a concert … it was like a big party.”
Down to earth, Buanne remains true to
his onstage respectful persona. He is not
notorious for the bizarre demands that entertainers sometimes place contractually into
their concert riders. He only requires that
concert promoters provide him and his musicians with homestyle cooking prior to his
concert. And Leo’s Ristorante from nearby
Warren, Ohio (who graciousl