Published: June 29, 2009 07:32 pm      

Christian opera singer to perform

DANVILLE — Paul Pitts, known as the Pavarotti of Christian music, will perform in Danville Sunday.

Pitts and his daughter, Elizabeth, will perform at 10:40 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene. The following weekend, Pitts will appear in “The Secret Garden” at Myers Dinner Theatre in Hillsboro, Ind.

Pitts, whose tenor voice has earned strong reviews, has given more than 5,000 performances through radio, television, recordings and personal appearances.

He has been a featured soloist at performances across the world, including being guest soloist in Jerusalem for the TV special presentation of the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood in May 2008. The special was viewed around the world in more than 200 countries.

Pitts also has shared the stage with motivational speakers such as Zig Ziglar and James Dobson. He can be seen frequently on numerous Christian TV programs and can be heard on radio stations.

He has released CDs, including “I Am Near” and “All Rise.”

As has been tradition in sports to have opera singers perform the National Anthem, he has done so with numerous teams. In past seasons, Pitts has worked with opera companies and has studied numerous roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

In addition, Pitts has mastered roles as the title role in “Otello,” MacDuff in “MacBeth” and Canio in “I Pagliacci.”

Pitts’ motto is: “If I can touch someone’s heart with the love of God, I will have lived out my purpose for living.”

Pitts has been singing since he was 4 years old, when his sister taught him Christian songs at the piano.

COMING UP

Singer Paul Pitts will perform at 10:40 a.m. Sunday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 2212 N. Vermilion St.

His Web site is http://www.paulpitts.com