Mario Frangoulis to Tell TALES OF CHRISTMAS at bergenPAC

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey presents Mario Frangoulis: Tales of Christmas-Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 8PM; Purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC's Box Office at 201.227.1030.

Mario Frangoulis is an international Classical Crossover artist and tenor known the world over for his powerhouse vocals and charismatic live performances. Born in Africa and raised in Greece, he attended London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he was discovered by producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Mackintosh cast him in the role of Marius in LES MISERABLES in London's West End after which he was invited by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to play the role of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. He also won the role of Tony (among thousands) in the only production of West Side Story ever presented at the famous Teatro a la Scala in Milan, Italy. He is the winner of the Maria Callas Prize, the Pavarotti Competition, and was mentored by the late Carlo Bergonzi and Marilyn Horne. The most influential figure in his life, however, was the acclaimed tenor Alfredo Kraus who accepted Frangoulis as his only private student. After traveling the world and studying with Kraus, he attended the Julliard School of Music in New York, solidifying his vocal skill.

His recording career launched when he was discovered by Peter Gelb, the head of Sony Classical, who now runs the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Since that time, Frangoulis has released over 15 personal albums, and 10 compilation albums. His first two international releases, Sometimes I Dream and Follow Your Heart (2002-2006) held the #2 and #3 positions on Billboard's Classical Crossover charts with Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban for over 50 weeks. In 2011, Frangoulis was voted "Best Male Classical Crossover Artist," as a result of his newest release, Beautiful Things (2011) which was immediately followed by his third public television special- a live concert with the legendary Boston Pops, Mario Frangoulis Live with The Boston Pops (2012-2013). In 2015 he teamed up with 6-time Grammy winning maestro, arranger and producer Jorge Calandrelli, and the London Philharmonia Orchestra to create Tales of Christmas, Mario's first spiritual holiday album.

Mario Frangoulis is known for his refined vocal interpretations, and unique ability to sing in over 5 languages. He combines the classical and contemporary and loves to blend multiple styles (opera, pop, rock, folk, soul/R&B, world). He has performed with world-class artists from Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to Lara Fabian and Sarah Brightman, to Justin Hayward and Klaus Meine; and orchestras such as the Boston Pops, Chicago Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Novaya Opera of Moscow, and the Philharmonia Orchstra of London (to name a few). Theatre Jones said, "Frangoulis has a simply beautiful voice. Enjoying a live performance of this sound was worth the price of admission. But he has more than this. His ability to rivet the adoration of the audience to his every motion was stunning."

Frangoulis is beloved by his supporters and fans not only because of his vocal talent, but also because of who he is as a human being. Throughout his 25+ years on stage, he has been unwavering in his life-long commitment to humanitarian causes, especially those that pertain to the protection of children. He is an International Ambassador for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans in the United States and Canada, and Ambassador of Peace for Nobel Peace Prize Winner Betty Williams' World Centers of Compassion for Children International in Europe. The list of charities and philanthropic initiatives he has supported over the years is long, and include the Jose Carreras Leukemia Foundation, Give US Your Poor, The Jericho Project, the Dalai Lama Center for Peace, Prince Charles of England's Charities, UNESCO and many more.

Tickets available at: www.ticketmaster.com or Box Office (201) 227-1030. bergenPAC is located at 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631.

Founded in 2003, the 1,367-seat Bergen Performing Arts Center, or bergenPAC, is the area's cultural mecca. Housed in a historic Art Deco-style theater boasting one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States, bergenPAC attracts a stellar roster of world-class entertainment. The jewel in our crown is The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC - the innovative, educational performing arts initiative that, through programs, classes, outreach, school shows, and main theater presented shows, reach more than 30,000 students and community youth annually. The Performing Arts School provides community youth, age 2 months to 21 years, with unique, "hands-on" training in music, dance and theater by industry professionals. It is through the ongoing generosity of sponsors, donors, members, and patrons that the not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation bergenPAC and The Performing Arts School are able to thrive and enrich our community.

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