Luca Pisaroni sings "La Calunnia" (and some fun facts)

Luca Pisaroni

We can't think of a better way to start the New Year than with Luca Pisaroni singing Rossini's "La calunnia" from "Il barbiere di Siviglia." 

Once again, Mozart will figure prominently on the Italian barihunk's schedule in 2011. He performs "Le nozze di Figaro" in Vienna in February and Houston in April. In July, he plays Leporello opposite fellow barihunk Ildebrando d'Arcangelo in Baden Baden.

Here are a few fun facts that you may not know about this gifted singer:

• The Italian singer was actually born in Venezuela
• He studied with the great Italian Verdi specialist Carlo Bergonzi
• Pisaroni grew up in Verdi's hometown of Busseto, yet is known as a Mozart specialist
• Doesn't plan on tackling Verdi until he's 40 (he's 35 now)
• He admits to being scared of singing the title role in Don Giovanni
• He has a dachshund named Tristan
• He was inspired to become a singer after hearing Luciano Pavarotti sing "Nessun dorma."

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