Las Vegas glamour comes early to Singapore.

Before the integrated resorts hit town with their cabaret acts, St James Holdings - owners of the megaclub St James Power Station - is set to bring in Vegas-style live music shows to its new club, the Bellini Grande.

The supper club - touted to be a one-stop dining, wining and party spot - will take over the former Crazy Horse site at Clarke Quay and will feature one of the biggest line-up of live music acts in a night club.

The New Paper stopped by on Tuesday evening to catch the rehearsals with its veritable United Nations of singers, dancers and musicians before the club officially opens tomorrow night.

One of the headliners at the new club is a Bellini Room regular, singer Rob Collins.

The handsome London-born warbler, 33, told The New Paper that he was excited about Bellini Grande clubs in Clarke Quay.

He summed up the club's vibe: 'It's Las Vegas come to Singapore.'

As we walked into the club, construction was at a hectic pace with workers putting finishing touches to the 1,579 sq m venue - the size of six basketball courts.

A thick blue-and-black plush carpet was already at the cavernous entrance, while the lobby bar and the 50-seater restaurant that will serve European cuisine, was being set up.

While the topless showgirls from the Crazy Horse revue may not be around anymore, St James is keeping some aspects of the former club's decor, like the plush red-velvet walls, sofas and the chandelier and wall-lights.

But they had to change some of the colours in the club, said St James' marketing communications manager Cheryl Khong, as it was 'too red'.

'The whole place was red, from the ceilings to the walls,' she explained.

St James also replaced the dance floor and put in some chic black and white tiles for the rest of the club space.

For the smokers, an all glass smoking room was built so they can have a puff and still catch the acts on stage.

That is if the smoke doesn't get in the way.

On stage, the 17-piece band, called the Bellini Grande Pop Orchestra, was going through a sound check with Mr Stephen Francis, the music director.

Mr Francis, 47, told The New Paper the Bellini Grande music concept is an extension of the former Bellini Room's swing music repertoire, but with a wider range.

The band will serve up music from Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, and Donna Summer, as well as funk, soul, rock 'n' roll and even ballroom music like the cha-cha.

'We will play pop classics with a twist to the arrangement,' he said.

'Dream come true'

Accompanying the performances on stage will be three technical people - one soundman, lighting and special effects person and a video technician.

Mr Francis gestured to the stage and said: 'This is my dream come true. I started out at the Devils Bar playing in a small band. I always wanted to have horns and a string section.'

He added that his biggest challenge is communicating with his orchestra.

His main band, which is the original seven-piece band from the former Bellini Room, are mostly made up of locals.

His horn section has players from America and Thailand, his entire string section is from Paraguay, while his percussionist is from Columbia.

Said Mr Francis with a laugh: 'I think I need to learn Spanish.'

And probably French too, considering the dancing and singing line-up.

Six of the seven dancers at the Bellini Grande are from France, including former Crazy Horse showgirl, Ms Laure Phoutharat. The two female singers are also French.

Mathilde Ferry, 29 and Lucile Bahnhotlzer, 24 - who are trained dancers from Paris - will be performing for the first time in Singapore.

While they may not speak English fluently, they do a fairly good job on stage with pop English classics like the 1954 Irving Berlin number, Sisters.

They will also be singing some French numbers.

Speaking through a translator, the singers could not say enough good things about Singapore.

Said Ms Ferry: 'It's modern and looks quite European as well.'

Ms Bahnholtzer said that she has tried chicken rice and satay.

'But I can't take anything too spicy. I will have to get used to it,' she said.

Bellini Grande is the latest St James' acquisition after Bar None and The Living Room in Orchard Road.

The club signed a $2.75 million deal with Eng Wah Organisation's subsidiary EW and has a five-year lease on the premises.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Sep 25, 2008.