Newcomer Vissi’s High-Energy Set Shows That Greece Is the Word

Anna Vissi. Remember the name. She’s a combination of Madonna and Celine Dion, with a graceful touch of Melina Mercouri.

Already a major star in her native Greece, Vissi made her first foray into the Southland on Saturday before a sold-out crowd at the Pool Patio of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel with a performance so charismatic, so filled with sheer, magnetic talent, that it made no difference that she sang virtually the entire program in Greek.

Much of the material came from her two most recent hit albums, “Trauma” and “Antidoto,” and her adoring crowd knew every word of every song. Svelte and elegant, with the shape and the moves of a well-trained dancer, Vissi was a complete package of entertainment high voltage.

Her voice moved easily from the tricky melismas typical of Greek music to the kind of outright, passionate belting that knows no boundaries.

Constantly interacting with her audience, she roved the stage, as well as a long runway, accepting flowers, tossing blossoms, occasionally pulling an enraptured young man onstage to dance a few steps with her. As if Vissi’s own remarkable presence wasn’t enough, she was framed in a major league setting, with an opening number accompanied by fireworks, a 10-piece ensemble, a company of talented dancers and surprisingly innovative choreography.

Vissi is recording an English-language album with Peter Asher (producer of Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, et al). Expect big things from this potential new international star.