Grotta Azzurra Ristorante Announces Upcoming Musical Performances

The legendary Grotta Azzurra Ristorante, located on the corner of Broome and Mulberry Streets in one of lower Manhattan's historic neighborhoods – Little Italy -- is in the process of transforming its famous lower-level 'grotto' into an intimate live music room on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 PM for the remainder of December. The policy will be a $20 cover charge plus a two drink minimum (which can be applied to food). Dinner at this fabled Italian restaurant will be served in the "Downstairs Grotto Room" before and during the performance. The capacity of the 'grotto" is 50 people.

Each performance night features two singers – a soprano and a tenor or baritone – who perform solo and together, supported by a talented keyboard player. Each musical evening includes a combination of Opera, Neapolitan folk songs and American Songbook tunes. All of the performers in this series have performed in front of live audiences in the tri-state New York area, either at popular uptown cabaret venues like Feinstein's and the Metropolitan Room, or in operatic venues and concert halls in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.

Reservations are suggested by calling Grotta Azzurra Ristorante at 212-925-8775.
This week's performers in the "Downstairs at the Grotta" series are: Michelle Trovato and David Katz on Wednesday, December 21; and John Carelli and Cristina Marie on Thursday, December 22. N Caranza and Cheryl Warfield will share the stage on Wednesday, December 28, and Jimmy Alleva and Christiana will perform on Thursday, December 29. David Maiullo will be the accompanist on Thursday, December 22. David Schaeffer will be the accompanist all other nights.
Producers Mort Berkowitz and Les Schecter, who have presented concert performers at various Little Italy venues over the past decade, believe the intimacy and 'grotto' atmosphere make this a perfect place to present multi-talented singers who can perform a repertoire of songs ranging from Broadway show tunes to classic opera to Italian folk music. "We want the music to reflect New York (Broadway) and the historic Italian neighborhood," they said. "For decades people have been coming to Little Italy for the food and the atmosphere and Grotta Azzurra has as much atmosphere as anywhere else in the neighborhood."

The presenters noted that the initial lineup of performers includes singers who have performed before at Little Italy's Feast of San Gennaro Opera Nights as well as at Little Italy's popular summer festivals which are held weekends on the Mulberry Street Mall from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

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