Christopher Macchio: the crafting
of a talented tenor
In a time and place where talent is created, a tenor was given the passion of a Mario Lanza, the power of a Luciano Pavarotti and the voice of an angel. And when he sings his voice is so full of soul, passion and power it lights up a concert hall like an exploding supernova.
The tenor's name is Chris-topher Macchio and I caught up with him between his guest appearances. I'm pleased to say he happily agreed to this interview.
Cookie: Benvenuto, Chris-topher.
Christopher: Thank you Cookie, it's my pleasure to meet with you, as I've heard so many wonderful things about all you do for artists and the wider Italian-American community.
Cookie: Grazie, it's my pleasure to make the world aware of talented people like yourself.
Cookie: Christopher, you spent your childhood hoping to practice law until the day you discovered your incredible singing talent, that must have created a profound change in your life.
Christopher: Well, it was during a chorus evaluation that my entire life and identity began to change. I went from being a shy introverted bookworm into someone who developed the capacity to connect with people through the gift of music. Because I spent my formative years avoiding the spotlight, I am able to appreciate the reality that truly great art is not about the artist themselves, but rather their capacity to convey and evoke emotion in others. This connection helps my audience to connect with each other as well, so that by the end of the evening, everyone in the venue or hall feels they've experienced something magical, and in so doing, have had our collective humanity reaffirmed.
Cookie: A tenor with such a powerful and gifted voice as yours must go through years of training. Where did you receive your training and was there one person that gave you the best advice?
Christopher: That's a terrific question, because I often encounter some misconceptions about the role of training and instructors in the process of honing the craft of singing. I can tell you from experience that formal training is very important to provide the structure and theory of healthy singing. However, there is no substitute for being born with a gifted voice, and the raw talent for using it to make beautiful music. This is something conservatories have a vested interest in downplaying, because no amount of tuition or study will create a beautiful vocal instrument, improve a tone-deaf ear (brain),or imbue in someone the passion for conveying the words and phrases that enrich our lives. The best advice is to listen to anyone who has earned the respect of their audiences and colleagues, and take whatever pearls of wisdom that happen and apply them in an individualized way.
Cookie: You are a founding member of the exciting Italian American singing group, "Bell'Aria". A very unique project created by PBS television and EMI records to celebrate the full and rich history of mItalian American music. Tell us more about this wonderful project and your album "Little Italy."
Christopher: Thank you Cookie, we're very excited about the opportunity of showing four Italian-American soloists, and the rich musical heritage created by decades of Italian-American musical virtuosity. The group is comprised of four distinct voices, (Soprano, Mezzo, Baritone, and me, the Tenor), hand-picked by Luciano Pavarotti - producer Craig Leon, to span the full breath of musical legacies left by likes of Mario Lanza, Dean Martin, Connie Francis, and others. Our debut album, "Little Italy" takes the listener on a sonic journey from the music of old Napoli, through the houses of grand opera, and into the dining rooms of our favorite restaurants and relatives. Our PBS television special "Live from Las Vegas" was their highest-rated musical show this past holiday season, and showed our ability to blend as a cohesive ensemble. Now we're looking forward to defining ourselves as individuals, each with our own unique sound and personality. My favorite song in our show is "Be My Love", not only because it was made famous by my hero, the incomparable legend Mario Lanza, but because it expresses the spirit of the group towards it's audience, in that we're here to offer our love for music, and hope to earn the love of our audience in return.
Cookie: I'm pleased to say you have just recorded your own new CD titled "DOLCE MOMENTI"( sweet moments) produced by grammy winner Tony Camillo . Your songs encompasses a rich halo of music such as "Be My Love", "Maria" and a favorite of mine, "Gaurdian Angels". How did you come to select these songs for your premier album?
Christopher: As I mentioned before, "Be My Love" is a song that means a great deal to me because of it's association with Mario Lanza, and its innate passion and power. The "Maria" track is among my favorites, and that's because it shows a broad dynamic range, and reminds me of my role in an off-Broadway production of West Side Story. I played the leading role, Tony, which was a lucky break for me in particular, because it's one of the few leading Broadway roles that didn't require any extensive dancing to distract me from singing!
The song "O Sole Mio" also means a great deal to me, because it was the very first song I sang as a solo in public. I am pleased to say that the response was overwhelmingly positive, and it was in fact the warmth and enthusiasm I received from this piece that got me over my terrible stage fright in my early years of performing! The rest of the songs on the album were chosen to show what I'm vocally capable of, and to provide familiar listening enjoyment to all who play the disc.
The "Guardian Angel" track was a special addition, to suggestion of my manager, Vincent D'Angelo, to repurpose an old Mario Lanza classic as a tribute to our police, firefighters, and our service men and women in uniform, who collectively serve as "guardian angels" for the entire American nation. My own cousin, West Point Graduate Captain Richard Macchio, attended a concert of mine the day after safely returning from a tour of duty in Iraq. In tribute to this hero, who flew hundreds of missions protecting convoys over hostile territory in his Apache helicopter, I dedicated this song to him, and to all such guardian angels, who protect our safety, our freedom, and our very way of life.
Cookie: Whenever I interview an Italian American entertainer I like to ask them one special question…what is your favorite Italian dish and can you prepare it?
Christopher: Haha, I'm glad you asked that Cookie. My favorite Italian dish, as anyone can't denie is Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and Broccoli. As for preparing it, I take after my grandfather and enjoy cooking a great deal. However, I do what I can, I still have yet to match the culinary prowess of my Nonna, and it's her Fettuccine that I enjoy most of all!
Cookie: Well, Christopher, thank you for sharing time with us and for helping us to know you so much better, it's been a great pleasure talking with you.
Christopher: It has been a real pleasure Cookie, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. Please don't ever stop doing
