Whitney Phoenix beside the hand-crafted Steinway Grand piano inside the Petrossian Lounge at the Bellagio Resort Las Vegas.

Piano Players of Bellagio

Classical Musicians Provide the Soundtrack to Sin City’s Most Iconic Resort

BY SAMUEL NOVAK / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WHITNEY PHOENIX, AND DAVID OSBORNE

Bellagio Resort Las Vegas is synonymous with class. Its refined elegance is known across the globe, as are the man-made lake and glorious fountains that greet its guests. Enter through one of the ornate revolving doors, and you’ll be awestruck by “Fiori di Como,” a breathtaking glass sculpture.

Comprised of over 2,000 pieces, the masterpiece was created by artist Dale Chihuly. It covers a massive area suspended from the lobby’s ceiling. And to the right, beautiful piano melodies from Bellagio’s famed “Petrossian Bar and Lounge” fill the air.

Music is often an integral part of a resort’s atmosphere. Some renowned hotels sell their music collections so you can recreate vacation memories at home. The music is live at the Petrossian Lounge, and the performers who sit at its grand piano are masters of their art form.

You might not think that fans of Beyonce and Taylor Swift would have an appreciation for the styling of a piano maestro, but that is far from the case. Crowds regularly form around the circular lounge, often lining up six deep. Even bustling travelers stop to relish what they hear, applauding after each song.

At the heart of the lounge is a very special Steinway Grand piano. Hand-crafted in 1997 for Steinway of New York by master woodworker Frank Pollaro, the one-of-a-kind instrument emulates the 1930s Art Deco style. Finished in the rarest veneers, the museum-quality piece has been featured in publications like Architectural Digest.

A team of seven highly accomplished pianists has the pleasure of performing on the Steinway Grand. Each night, one of them graces its world-famous keys. They are equally at home with Gershwin and Gaga, Beethoven and Bono, Sinatra and Sheeran. These artists are as much a part of the resort as its Richard Macdonald Gallery and “O,” Bellagio’s signature Cirque du Soleil production.

Two pianists, Whitney Phoenix and David Osborne, have been with the resort in one form or another since its beginning. CHIC COMPASS spoke with these gentlemen about their fascinating career paths that led to the Petrossian Lounge.

Mr. Whitney Phoenix would be that man if someone can personify a destination. Phoenix presents a striking figure with his silver hair and custom tuxedo jacket. That is only one of the reasons why passers-by will stop in their tracks when he graces the keys.

“I have been honored to play for many celebrities – Nicolas Cage, George Strait, Barbara Walters, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Dog the Bounty Hunter, Vanna White, and even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. But my greatest pleasure is connecting with everyday people,” Mr. Phoenix says. “I enjoy making new friends and providing them with an experience they will treasure and which will bring them back again and again.”
A prodigy in the vein of Elton John, the Vermont native began playing at eight. That’s when his father acquired a piano from a yard sale for a mere twenty dollars. Whitney saw it as a puzzle meant to be solved and relentlessly experimented on the keyboard. By age ten, he’d already decided that being a pianist would be his lifelong career.

Expressive and engaging, Maestro Phoenix inhabits each piece of music, giving it life and heart in a way that few artists can. His poise, elegance, and gentle smile are even more intriguing when you learn of his military background. Right out of boot camp, the former Marine was an instructor in the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach.

As a teacher, Whitney expanded his repertoire beyond classical music into Latin, Big Band, jazz, country, and rock. After the Marine Corps, he spent several years in California, “chasing his tail” while dabbling in casual gigs and rock bands. Then, in 1985, a phone call from a fellow Marine lured him to Las Vegas.

During the nineties, Las Vegas was “the place to be for musicians,” he says. Whitney performed with small bands in casino lounges, playing top-40 hits at Flamingo, Tropicana, and the Sands. That segued into solo gigs at Imperial Palace, Caesars Palace, and MGM Grand. It was during this period that he met his soul mate.

Marianne LeMoine Phoenix has been Whitney’s wife and collaborator for twenty-eight years. A consummate vocalist in her own right, she has performed with Wayne Newton, Debbie Reynolds and even made two surprise appearances with Diana Ross.

The couple joined forces in 1993 when Marianne hired Whitney to write some musical arrangements. “I ran out of money to pay him,” she jokes, “So we made other arrangements!” The two worked as a duo in local lounges for a few years. “We performed in every hotel that’s been imploded. That’s my claim to fame!” she laughs.

The pair began their relationship with the Bellagio before it officially opened. On October 14th, 1998, Marianne and Whitney entered the long-anticipated resort at the commencement of his contract, only to discover that Bellagio was not opening until the following day.

He was dressed in a tuxedo and tails, and she wore a magnificent beaded evening gown. Workers were busy completing the final touches. Whitney played for them as Marianne strolled the property, getting a sneak peek at the facilities, including the dazzling “O” Theater.

Marianne is proud that her husband continues the classy, elegant entertainment that Vegas was founded on, and Whitney treasures the opportunity to do so. “Making the guests feel at home is job number one. I feel like I am as much of an ambassador as a performer. Faithful followers return year after year, and some folks have even passed the tradition down to the next generation.”

The Bellagio celebrated twenty-five years of operation on October 15th, 2023, and Mr. Phoenix was there for the landmark event. He reflected on the past quarter-century:

“I am so fortunate to have held the best job in the world. Hats off to the Bellagio! In an era when music is low on the list of hotel-casino priorities, MGM Resorts International has consistently maintained the piano music at the Petrossian Bar.”

“Our guests love to watch the world stream by as they sit under the shadow of the magnificent Chihuly glasswork, and I play and enjoy their requests. Every day continues to be an adventure. I am constantly introduced to new songs, and old favorites take on a fresh meaning when they connect with appreciative ears.”

David Osborne has been at Petrossian’s Steinway nearly as long as Mr. Phoenix. Known as the “Pianist to the Presidents,” the Oklahoma native has performed for every Commander in Chief since Jimmy Carter. He still travels regularly to the White House, a noteworthy honor highlighting an exemplary career.

David’s music began attracting listeners when he was barely five. Tinkering on his grandmother’s piano led a local piano teacher to the front porch of their home. Impressed by what she recognized as natural talent, the instructor offered free lessons.

Years of formal training culminated in a Master of Music degree in Keyboard Performance. It also resulted in “David Osborne Street” in his hometown. The maestro shares the honor with other Miami, Oklahoma, successes like Micky Mantle and Heisman trophy winner Steve Owen. BREAD founder David Gates also inducted him into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

David’s title of “Pianist to the Presidents” dates to 1987. That’s when President Jimmy Carter entered his life. David was living in Orlando, Florida, and Carter appeared at a nearby store, promoting his latest book.

Osborne gifted the President with a vinyl recording of his work, a phone number clearly written on the jacket. What followed was a personal and professional relationship that continues to this day. President Carter refers to his friend as “one of the finest pianists in the United States.”

In 1999, Osborne helped to organize Carter’s seventy-fifth birthday gala. Most recently, he performed with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at the memorial service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. At last count, he’s played at the White House seventy-five times for six sitting Presidents.

David’s Vegas career began at Caesars Palace in 1975. He bested over two hundred candidates for a spot at the iconic Palace Court Restaurant and Lounge. “It was a big deal to get that job. Everyone wanted it,” he recalls. “All the large acts came there after their performances—Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, John Cougar Mellencamp, Daryl Hall, and John Oates. It was the most exclusive room in town.”

Palace Court is also where Osborne befriended singer/actor Robert Goulet and his wife Vera. “Bob was one of those stars that, if I played something in his key, he’d go right into it. That magnificent voice filled every pore of the room, no mic. It was like, “Wow!” The guy had pipes that would stand your hair on end.”

Goulet’s widow continues to reside in the couple’s elegant Las Vegas home. Osborne says that he and Vera have remained close friends since Robert’s passing. He treasures the moments the trio shared at Caesars.

Palace Court was shuttered in April of 2000. On the final night, David played “As Time Goes By” as the last patrons exited. He remained with Caesars Palace until becoming a part of Bellagio’s Petrossian roster.

Like Whitney Phoenix, Mr. Osborne was present for Bellagio’s opening. Elaine Wynn, wife of former Bellagio owner Steve Wynn, had arranged for David to perform a dual concert with International Signature Steinway Artist Van Cliburn.

Osborne’s relationship with Elaine and Steve carried over to Wynn Las Vegas. They welcomed new resort president Marc Shore and its celebrity chef team to their home for its launch. Osborne played for Alex Strata, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Guy Savoy.

There are close to one hundred albums in Osborne’s discography. His music blankets the world, reaching over 600,000 listeners on Spotify monthly. Lucky Steinway SPIRIO player piano owners can have David Osborne “perform” in their homes.

Thanks to “live capture” technology, four of David’s performances rank in the top ten of five thousand available recordings. His nuance, power, and passion are meticulously recreated, indistinguishable from his actual presence on the keyboard.

As a “Signature Steinway & Sons Artist,” Osborne is the only full-time performer in Nevada to carry that title. He tours regularly as a Steinway Artist in 3,000-seat concert halls and teaches improvisational/music interpretation skills to Steinway and Sons Master Class students. Bellagio guests are fortunate to experience a true international artist.

As the world-famous resort enters its second quarter-century, visitors will continue to be thrilled by the magic of Whitney Phoenix, David Osborne, and the rest of Bellagio’s piano artists, all of whom form its beating heart.

“Many things have changed,” says Phoenix. “Management, staff, decor, pianists, even hotel ownership – but the quality remains. The welcoming atmosphere, the service, and, of course, the piano music combine to make the Petrossian Bar the favorite lounge spot in Las Vegas. I, for one, am looking forward to another glorious twenty-five years!”