It was the first performance at the Vienna State Opera for an enterainer, who had performed in many concert halls around the globe during his lang carreer. In his concert during the Vienna Jazz Festival in 2007, Paul Anka mesmerized his audience with his power as well as his nuances as an entertainer of world class. Not many would have know him to be the author of almost 1.000 songs and a multi-instrumentalist in his own right.

An artist in touch and in tune with his audience
Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s. Some of his hit songs from that time are among the most famous tunes of all times: "Diana," "Lonely Boy," and "Put Your Head on my Shoulder." What might be less know is the fact that he wrote Tom Jones' biggest hit, "She's A Lady" as well as the English lyrics for Frank Sinatra's signature song, "My Way."

When in New York, Fritz Thom specially drove to New Jersey to see Paul Anka perform. Not without a certain element of surprise he encountered an entertainer with so much power in his performance as well as an artist with long years of experience always in touch and in tune with his audience.

A virtual duet with Sammy Davies Jr.
At the Vienna State Opera Paul Anka proved to be a genius of communication with his audience, never shy to adopt the latest trends, taking pictures of a picture-taking audience rather than prohibiting photography at his concerts. The stairs from the stage to the floor turned out to be an important element of his show, presenting the producers with security problems in this historic opera house.

It was also the first time that the iron curtain – that usually serves as the backdrop of the stage for concerts at the opera house – was kept open during on special demand from Paul Anka, who used a large video projection for his virtual duet with Sammy Davies Jr. He was kind and patient with his fans asking for his signature, but gave such souveniers only to those who were able to name at least five of his songs.