Destino Brings Romance to Town Feb. 13

Fans of Josh Groban and Il Divo take notice! Canadian classical crossover sensation Destino brings romance to The Clayton Center on Saturday, Feb. 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The international tenor trio performs their unique blend of operatic classics and contemporary soft pop as part of the 2009-2010 Palladian Series.

The trio – who are former members of a quartet known as the Canadian Tenors – released their first album as Destino in the U.S. in 2009. An immediate hit, Forte, features a mix of classical and soft pop songs that showcase the tenors powerful voices and broad range of appeal. The album includes the breathtaking Adagio and the smooth and inspiring, Keep The Dream Alive.

Destino brings a twist to the tenor genre, infusing their songs with a little soul and R&B, and expanding their repertoire to include contemporary tunes, covering such artists as Toni Braxton, Marc Anthony and Gloria Estefan. The trio combines the harmonic melodies and good looks of a boy band with soaring and powerful voices of classically trained tenors, a formula that explains their popularity with audiences of all ages.

Heidi Stump, executive director of The Clayton Center, said, “Destino’s mix of both classic and contemporary songs will appeal to a diverse crowd. This will be a Valentine’s concert for people of all ages to enjoy.”

Backed by a pianist and strings, Destino hits the Clayton Center stage for a romantic Valentine’s weekend concert, right before heading to Vancouver for a second Olympic performance.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. Destino performance are $22 plus service fees. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 919-553-1737, at The Clayton Center Box Office, 111 E. Second Street in downtown Clayton, from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.theclaytoncenter.com .

The Destino performance will be followed by the popular Blues Bash, an annual Palladian Series event that this year features Eric Bibb and Ruthie Foster, on Friday, Feb. 26.

Other popular artists presented in past seasons at The Clayton Center include Kathy Mattea, Johnny Winter, Jesse Cook, Jim Brickman, Doc Watson, Eileen Ivers, Riders In the Sky, the Harlem Gospel Choir and David Sedaris.