Customer Reviews

Olde School

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Words fail, so this won't be long. I've heard modern takes on classical music before and was severely underwhelmed. After hearing this music on a NPR program, I could tell someone finally got it right. The musicianship and arranging are near perfect and the variety of styles (influenced by Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, and many others) kept me interested from start to finish. I couldn't be happier to stumble on this gem.

Having heard EVOC live, and listening to their first 2 releases repeatedly, I was looking forward to hearing what they would do next. This disc does not disappoint!!! Very talented vocals and instumentals transform opera classics into modern masterpieces. This is how Wagner, Mozart, and Verdi would do opera if they were alive today. They bring passion, and beauty to these updated versions without losing the essence of the music. REALLY..you must hear it to believe it.

I first saw this company in a staged performance along with the Parsons Dance Company and the Joyce Theatre in New York. The show was interesting, and I knew the music deserved a second listen. Now I cannot stop. It's like the Red Shoes. It is on continuous play, and I sing and feel the music all day long. Rock and Rollers will like it because the quality of the music is superb, and Opera purists will (or at least Could) like it because it gives new life to timeless melodies. A must-have.

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to catch my breath........I have heard this group twice in concert and they are breathtaking to listen to and watch perform...BUT ....this CD is as close as your ever going to get to LIVE!!!!!!
BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT

I love EVOC. As in I think their sophomore cd "East Village Opera Company" is genius, inspired etc and their first cd "La Donna" was bursting with potential...This cd is none of those things. I actually would rate this album a three but I just can't because I don't want people to see poor ratings and assume this band sucks. My biggest problem is that it seems EVOC has abandoned their opera roots in favor of less beautiful more generic, sometimes even annoying music. It's not that the songs aren't still technically "opera", it's that the Peter's arrangements tend to destroy rather than enhance the original pieces.

Don't get me wrong, I am not an opera fanatic and was not expecting a strait up "opera" album. However, what I was expecting was beautiful music, but in comparison to their past works--this stuff is just trite and flat. Also-this is just a personal preference, but I think AnnMarie is a much better vocalist than Tyley so I was disappointed that Tyley sings virtually the entire album. This is still EVOC though, and there are still some real gems like "Va Tosca" and "As You Were Then." I just hope that this was a more experimental cd for them and a style that they will never return to. Will still buy their next album tho :)

I was hoping for more of the pop re-orgnized opera classics from thier first album, and the opera is their, but it seems disjointed. The music is good, but it isn't what I expected from EVOC.

This is a great CD and it gets even better if you have seen the East Village Opera Comany's new show which showcases the music in this new CD. The group has outstanding instrumentalists and the two vocalists (Tyley Ross and AnnMarie Milazzo) are supurb. In fact, the entire band is outstanding. Great work by the whole group

This CD is far more meaningful if you have seen the band in person. They are very impressive. The sound at a live performance is hard to duplicate on a CD. I will be looking forward to the next CD done by this group.

Too noisy for my liking. Felt like they were drowning their talent in cacaphony. Such a shame to hear velvel turned into sandpaper.

As You Were Then is a beautiful song. EVOC's touch is wonderful...I can't stop listening to it. I wish she would sing it to me.

You don't hear much that is really different and good in this world, but this album is a major exception. I particularly like the fifth track, but you may have a different favorite.