Customer Reviews

The East Village Opera Company

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I grew up watching Tyley Ross onstage (in Tommy, Miss Saigon, in concert, etc) and always admired his singing and diversity, and when I got word of EVOC I was thrilled that he's ever-evolving and still singing.

I bought this CD the day it came out and I haven't stopped listening to it yet. EVOC has maintained the musical integrity of the opera it presents and has only heightened it's excitement for today's audience. I can't wait for more from them. Keep singing Tyley!

This is the CD for both opera lovers AND neophytes. EVOC is comprised of passionate performers possessed with unparalleled musicianship in a genre all their own. The arrangements maintain the integrity of the original compositions and are undoubtedly a representation of how the masters would have treated their creations today.

With some influences ranging from the cultural to the retro-rock appeal of Pete Townsend and Queen, each track takes you to soaring heights of musical nirvana without losing sight of the inherent simplicity of the melodies. I saw these guys rock the house live in NY at Joe's Pub and the CD accurately captures their incendiary performance. I'm not much of an opera fan, but for me, EVOC has certainly bridged the gap between the pretentious and the accessible genres.

The genuis behind the band is Peter Kiesewalter, the visionary, who arranged most of the tracks with some collaborative effort. He shows no restraint as he unleashes his emotional and bold ideas out of his pressure cooker head. As a result, the world's all the better for it. And Tyley Ross, what a vocal powerhouse! 'La Donna E Mobile' from Rigoletto embodies so much passion with Ross's smooth, versatile vocals against one of the most exciting rhythms you'd never think would compliment such a piece. Paired with AnnMarie Milazzo's solid pipes on several duets, they both blend exquisitely in harmonious bliss, especially in the Flower Duet from Lakme. The originally intended sapphic piece is gently morphed into an unrealized yet effective narrative with satisfying results.

If you're up for something refreshing and is tastefully done, forget Amici Forever and Il Divo. While they're both capable crossover singing groups, EVOC is a full BAND with amazing talents worthy of a listen. Trust me. Rock lovers, opera loyalists, and pop afficionados will rejoice in the listening experience of a company that brings music enthusiasts together on the same page. Get ready for EVOC!!!!

These guys are really great, and I would hate to see anyone scared away because a couple other reviewers compare them to the TSO. While TSO deliver leaden, workmanlike readings with average musicianship, the EVOC deliver soulful, virtuosic performances with great flair and finesse. The rock guitarist (Ben Butler) and drummer are superb in EVOC as they truly understand classic rock but have the chops to dliver the opera material accurately. I think Tyley Ross and (especially) Ann Marie Millazza are two of the finest vocalists in any genre I've heard. In addition the arrangements are genius. Well done!

For those of you who believe music is an art as well as a business, you should buy this album. `Classical Rock' is a genre where the eloquence and complexity of classical music can be heard with a modern rock sound. It has been too long in coming and `The East Village Opera Company' has provided us with a remarkable presentation of what can be done. They chose some of the most modern sounding arias and arranged them for a rock group. My preference would have been to stay closer to the original arrangement and adjust for electric guitar and drums, but all rearrangements sound good and they maintain the essence of each aria. I love that all the arias are done in their original language (with the occasional translation thrown in for effect - it works). After all lyrics and music are written as a unit and translations by their nature loose something. The only real negative is that the vocals just are not strong enough for some of the arias; particularly the Puccini arias need a bigger more classical voice. But that being said, AnnMarie Milazzo has a beautiful voice, as does Tyley Ross and the blending of their voices is incredible. I can only hope that this is just the beginning of this kind of music. I would love to hear more classics and maybe someone will try composing new music for this genre; now that could be amazing!

This cd is amazing. It blends several music genres into a seamless blend of music that will have to finish from beginning to end. Opera is translated into today's contemporary music forms--rock, pop and electronica. If you loved the musicals that transformed operas into contemporary music forms like "Rent" from "LaBoheme" or Elton John's and Tim Rice's boradway "Aidd", you will love this cd. Nessun Dorma is a pure rock anthem with the beautiful Puccini melody from "Turandot." The flower duet has new dimensions with the sonic interplay between male vocalist Tyley Ross and female vocalist AnnMarie Milazzo. Trust me, you will not have heard this version of the Habanera from "Carmen", perhaps one of the most overperformed of Bizet's works. This cd is not for the faint of heart--it needs to be played loud and proud. Think Cirque du Soleil colliding with the Met. A glorious and stirring fusion of rock and opera. Operarocks!

The East Village Opera Company is amazing - I saw them on a weekend show and I loved them! And had to order this CD! As a former student of music and opera, as well as loving TSO, this blends rock with the beauty of arias.
For fans of all music, it is a perfect blend that will keep this in your CD player.

Kudos to the EVOC! I am a classical music nut, but my first love was RnR (which I still love, but very particular). I was delighted to find that this group's concept actually works very well. Not at all like, say, BOND...who are an insult to both classical and RnR, and to music in general.

The EVOC is great fun, yet still beautiful when called for. They really know and respect the importance of artistic interity in music.

The array of instruments used is highly impressive. I love the idea that they are introducing this music to many young people who may not have gotten exposed to it otherwise.

Another great group who is committed to this cause is the Ahn Trio.

I'm not a big opera person, but a great aria can be wonderful.

MUSIC IS THE BEST - FZ

I saw the EVOC live at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles last night, after I heard this CD.

Each musician in this group is phenomenally talented. They cover classical arias and duets but with rock sounds, electronic textures, and new, mind-bending syncopations. There is not a bad track anywhere on this CD. Each one has an amazing build and release and, after I saw them live last night, I wished I could go back twenty years, make some different decisions in my life and do what they're doing.

Beautiful, amazing artists -- all of them.

I first caught them on TV, playing for the Miss USA 2006 pageant. I thought I heard good rock singers then, so I bought the CD. The album is a true work of art, mixed and produced to perfection. Both the male and female singers have beautiful voices, and the arrangements are very tastefully done. They are reminiscent of classic rock from the 70's. I'm a 45 year-old classically trained musician, so I would have been one of the first to hate this album, but I wholeheartedly recommended it, especially to those who are into progressive rock music.

I heard EVOC for just a couple of minutes during "Miss USA" while flipping channels. I immediately listened to clips from their album and LOVED it. The only drawback is their French and parts of their Italian pronunciation. I wish they had had a better coach, because that parts takes something away for someone who speaks those languages, especially since their voices sound great. Other than that, if you love classical music AND rock anthem type music, you will love this album.