Arts & Entertainment
Recording Artist Sparks Love at Douglaston Library
Italian Singer Dino Rosi Woos the Crowd with "From Italy With Love"
Was it love or the hypnotic effects of romantic ballads?
International recording artist Dino Rosi held a Valentine’s Day concert, “From Italy with Love,” at the Douglaston/Little Neck Library and performed Neapolitan love songs, Broadway showtunes and arias from Italian operas, which wowed a packed house of fans who swayed and were enraptured by his tunes.
Rosi moved to the United States at 10 years of age with his parents from Naples, realizing he loved music and wanting to become a singing sensation.
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He has been performing as a tenor for more than 45 years and sings in five languages - Italian, Spanish, English, French and Yiddish. But his Italian mother originally had other plans for him.
“My mama wanted me to be a doctor, engineer or a pharmacist, but I told her I just wanted to be an opera singer and she said, 'No singer in this house,” Rosi said. “I eventually persuaded my mama that singing was in my blood."
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Rosi said Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavorotti were his greatest inspirations as he performed “Volare,” a popular Italian song.
The crowd cheered as he belted out Sinatra's “My Way” and “What I Did for Love” from the Broadway show, "A Chorus Line."
His performances, including “Hava Nagila Hava” and “My Yiddish Mama” as well as the Spanish number, "Granada," gave nods to several of Queens' numerous cultures.
Rosi gave away his CDs to two loyal fans and performed some Italian numbers from his latest CD, "Malafemmena (Bad Woman)."
Songs included: “Aneme e Core (Heart and Soul)," “Autume Leaves” by Jacques Prevert and “Funiculi-Funiculi.”
Tom Mason, who has performed with Rosi for six years and assists with musical arrangements, accompanied the singer on the keyboard.
“Rosi loves to sing a combination of continental love songs,” Mason said.
As Rosi was winding down his performance, he belted out “God Bless America” and “When You’re Smiling” by Judy Garland. One Bellerose couple, Rose and Ernest Ketani, did not want to leave and asked for an encore.
“It was just excellent,” said Rose Ketani. “We loved all the Italian and American songs.”
Ron Wan, manger of the library said he hopes Rosi will come back to woo more future crowds.
“He has such a good voice and it was really great,” Wan said. “He really captured the audience.”
On an ending note Rosi said, “If you’re good, goodness will come back to you in life and I wish love to everyone on this Valentine’s Day.”