Live entertainment
David Pellegrene
Singer · Pianist · Entertainer
David Pellegrene is a classically trained singer-pianist whose dynamic style draws on more than 40 years of performing, including 25 years in New York City. With a repertoire spanning Sinatra and Broadway to Billy Joel, Elton John and country favorites, David loves taking requests and tailoring each performance to the room. At Christner’s, his favorite nights are the ones when guests are listening, singing along and joining in the fun—because as David puts it, “the steak is the star, but I like it when I can give the steak a run for its money.”
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I always say the steak is the star at Christner’s, but I like it when I can give the steak a run for its money. The food is always going to be a huge part of the experience, but when the guests are enjoying the entertainment just as much, that’s a pretty great night for me.— David Pellegrene
In his own words
Q&A with David
How would you describe your style of music in three words?
“Dynamic, versatile, and energetic. I’m classically trained, so I can adapt to a lot of different styles, but I’m definitely not a laid-back performer. I like to interpret a song and really give it everything I have.”
Is there a song you love playing because guests always sing along, smile or request it?
“‘My Way’ is one of the biggest requests, and it’s also one of my favorite songs, so I always love when someone asks for it. ‘Piano Man’ and ‘Sweet Caroline’ are huge too. Those are the songs people know immediately, and you can feel the room respond.”
If someone is visiting Christner’s for the first time, what song do you hope they’ll hear you play?
“I’d probably want them to hear me sing ‘My Way.’ It’s one of my favorite songs, it gets requested all the time, and there’s something about Sinatra that just fits the atmosphere at Christner’s. When I start singing it, you can feel people quiet down and really listen.”
What’s your favorite item on the Christner’s menu?
“The bone-in ribeye, absolutely. I’ve ordered bone-in ribeyes for years, including at some very impressive places in New York, and Christner’s is by far the best I’ve had. I like it medium rare with a really good sear. And I’m a big fan of the lobster tail too.”
What’s your favorite part about performing at Christner’s?
“My favorite part is when I can tell everybody is genuinely having a good time. They’re interacting with me, requesting songs, paying attention and sometimes coming up afterward to tell me what they enjoyed. I have a good time if they’re having a good time.”
My favorite thing is when I can see everybody instantly having a good time. They’re listening, interacting with me, making requests and sometimes coming back another night asking for a song they remember hearing the last time. I have a good time if they’re having a good time.— David Pellegrene
More About David
How would you describe your performance style and what makes you different from other piano-bar entertainers?
“I’d say I’m a singer first and a pianist second, and that gives my performances a different kind of energy. I’m classically trained, I have a pretty powerful voice, and I really try to interpret every song instead of just playing through it. Whether it’s Broadway, standards, pop, country or something else, I want to give it 100 percent and make it feel like a performance.”
How did your background in opera, dance, and New York shape the performer you are today?
“My background is a little unusual because I have a degree in opera and I was also a professional ballet dancer. After I broke my ankle in New York, I fell back on something else I already knew how to do, which was playing piano and singing. That eventually became my career. I spent about 25 years performing in New York, sometimes seven nights a week, and that definitely taught me how to be energetic, outgoing and fully committed every time I get in front of an audience.”
Keep listening
Follow David Pellegrene
YouTubeEnjoy performances, behind-the-scenes moments, and more on David’s YouTube channel.
The audience at Christner’s keeps me on my toes. I played at some very famous places in New York, but at Christner’s I’ll get everything from Broadway and jazz standards to pop, classical music and country. I probably knew about 20 country songs when I started, and now I know around 80 because of the requests I’ve gotten there.— David Pellegrene
Live music at Christner’s
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A talented lineup bringing warmth, music, and personality to the dining room.
