Haven't yet heard about Mario, you say? No problem. Read our online article about his meteoric rise in the world of music. Read a sampling of what the music critics are writing about him: 1) "Can he sing his way to that mountain top? Yes. . . You bask in the glistening dynamics and tonal control he brings to his vocals."--Porter Anderson, CNN.com; 2) "Daring and inspiring"--Billboard Magazine; 3) "He's got the voice that breaks your heart, the one with the carees-and-power combo that's a half-breath away from exploding in an aria, and another breath away from a simple but sensitive pop hook."--The Herald. Then visit all the pages linked to our article, especially the one for his official website, and listen to the audio clips. (But we don't have to predict what will happen next. We already know. You'll end up buying his CDs just as we did!)

Singing sensation Mario Frangoulis will begin a debut solo tour on May 20th at New York's City Center with a 16-piece orchestra including some fellow Greek musicians, in response to an avalanche of requests from fans and agents. And if the reaction thus far of fans nationwide is any indication of the solo tour's future success, no tickets will last long. "City Center is a spectacular venue, and I think it's the perfect place to launch the U.S. tour," says the singer, who is "thrilled" to be kicking off this new phase of his North American career.

The billboard-topping vocalist will depart from some of his planned appearances as a guest performer with noted pianist Jim Brickman to usher in a new era in his multi-platinum singing career, a "Follow-Your-Heart" tour, named after his latest album. This latest recording shot to the top of the Classical Crossover chart, earning as much positive review as Frangoulis' first album, "Sometimes I Dream." The concert programs for this solo tour will be drawn from both of Frangoulis' albums, as well as other classical, native Greek and Broadway favorites, with some engagements featuring musical guests whose names will be announced shortly.

With an unforgettable voice forged in the world of opera, Frangoulis brings a dazzling, seductive tenor sound to a wide range of ballads and love songs, popular as well as classical, that reflect his remarkable interest and experience as a singer--all of which can be heard in his U.S. performances.

The handsome young tenor's mentors include operatic greats Alfredo Kraus and Marilyn Horne, and his rich and unique career already has taken him from London's West End--where he portrayed young heroes in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables--to the stage of Milan's fabled Teatro alla Scala, where he created the role of Tony in the company's first staging of West Side Story.

OK, now that we've convinced you he has the voice of another Orpheus, you say have another commitment on May 20? Aw, too bad! So keep tuned to Helleniccomserve.com to learn about the rest of the venues for his solo tour. . . .we're sure that this will be just the beginning of a long and successful career for this Olympic-class tenor. (And, by the way, it's no mistake that we're calling his voice "Olympic-class," for the Greeks were right to remind us last year that culture was just as important a component in the ancient Olympics as sports. If they had their way, cultural greats like Frangoulis would be receiving Olympic medals, too.)

TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE NEW YORK SOLO DEBUT

Friday, May 20th, show time, New York City, NY--City Center, (212) 581-1212

For additional information about the tour, contact publicist BRIAN FEIT, BMF Media/Management, brian@bmfmedia.com or (917) 523-8181.

CONTACTS:

Concert Booking Representative: KOSTA KANTZOGLOU, Globe Entertainment, kosta@globeent.com, (718) 721-1969

Sony Classical Publicity: DOREEN D'AGOSTINO, doreen.dagostino@sonybmg.com, (212) 833-7576