Coco de Mer

Adam Plack (Composer), Ilaan Rechtman (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ilaan Rechtman
• Composer: Adam Plack
• Audio CD (September 10, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rasa Music
• ASIN: B00006IZNV
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,028 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lakme (after Delibes' Dome epais le jamin)

2. Fire (after Bizet's Habanera from Carmen)

3. Vissi d'Arte (after Puccini)

4. Opus

5. Butterfly (after Puccini's Un Bel di)

6. Bell Song (after Delibes)

7. Respect (after Bach's Quia respexit humilitatem from Magnificat in D)

8. Cor Patir (after Handel's Ah Che pur troppo e vero)

9. Moon (Rusalka) (after Dvorak's Mesicku na nebi hlubokem)

10. Cherubin (after Massenet's Lorsque vous n'aurez rien a faire)

Editorial Reviews

Lush fusion of traditional French, Italian & Latin arias, live orchestration and instruments, which are elegantly stitched together with sensual, down-tempo dance grooves and modern ambient music. Digipak. Tommy Boy. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opera classics set to a groove beat, September 30, 2006

By 

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coco de Mer (Audio CD)

Adam Plack grew up trying to practice classical violin while his father played jazz and R&B records. He couldn't help but get distracted and jam along. Thus the idea for this CD, which couples multi-tracked operatic vocals by female singer Chen Reiss and classical-style accompaniments by pianist Ilan Rechtman and his string orchestra with sultry voice-overs and chillin' club-style drum beats. Think: Enigma with opera instead of Gregorian chant. Classical sources include Delibes' "Lakme," Bizet's "Carmen," Puccini's "Tosca" and "Madame Butterfly," Dvorak's "Rusalka," Massenet's "Cherubin," and cantatas by Bach and Handel. While the programmed beats here get a little monotonous after a while, and could be broken up more for the sake of interest, they do at least change noticeably from piece to piece. And I like the idea of this album: opera you can dance to! It more aptly fills the role of "Opera Crossover" than the work of such groups as Amici Forever and the Opera Babes, which also modify operatic arias, but not always in a distinctly modern manner. Don't be put off by the cover art of "Coco de Mer," which borders on the pornographic (it features a coconut, considered in India and Africa to be a sexual symbol, that is partially peeled to make it look like a woman's vagina). Sure to be considered graphic and offensive by some, this obtusely male-oriented marketing strategy makes even less sense than usual when considering that the coconut and its erotic symbolism have little or nothing to do with European opera set to a beat. Most of the song lyrics, with the exception of those from "Carmen," are about love, not sex. There is a difference, gentlemen. But my advice to prospective purchasers is to simply ignore the cover if it bothers you and enjoy the music. Try also "MCMXC A.D." by Enigma, "Mystic Spirit Voices" or "Illumination" by Lesiem, and any of the releases by Amici Forever and the Opera Babes.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sounds interesting enough..., January 11, 2004

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coco de Mer (Audio CD)

I personally don't listen to actual Opera because I find most of it to be boring but after Sarah Brightman's success took off with mega hits like "Time To Say Goodbye" and "Eden" several other acts followed suit in what's now known as classical crossover and it spread like a wildfire, catching flame by sparking the interests of unexpected listeners. Many "purists" criticize this genre for not using all the proper techniques when handling the voice and for sugarcoating these respected arias with pop beats, and whatnot, but I think it's a great way to draw people in that would normally steer far away from music such as this.

'Coco de Mer' (or "Tantric Coconut"), which was produced, arranged and conceived by Adam Plack was my first classical crossover buy in a long time and while I wasn't entirely disappointed I've heard far better. This reaches new grounds for it blends in nusoul grooves with downtempo Cafe del Mar-type beats (there's even a semi-rap part on Delibes' "Lakme") and I imagine the two could possibly coexist in the future sometime but this album needs a ton of improvement... Just as another reviewer stated, it was a good idea but poorly executed. Most of the songs don't work well but "Opus" is a beautiful piece (the only without singing) with strings and piano and the ever-enchanting melody of Dvorak's "Moon (Rusalka)" is almost worth the purchase alone! Chen Reiss has a lovely voice that reminds me a lot of Sasha Lazard and I also enjoy her operatics on "Respect" and "Col Patir" but she falls a bit short in sustaining my attentive ears.

All in all this isn't horrible (I appreciate the word translations inside the booklet) but I'd recommend Paul Schwartz's 'Aria 2: New Horizon' over this any day. As of this moment he's the best modern composer I've yet to discover.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great surprise!, October 19, 2002

By 

Douglas Dorman (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coco de Mer (Audio CD)

I never expected the "marriage" between hip-hop and classical opera to be so hip, engaging and musically rewarding but it is just that. One of my favorite CDs I have purchased in the last couple of years. I'm listening to it day and night.