Customer Reviews

Opera Band

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've seen Amici Forever in concert, and this album does not do them justice.

The blend of vocals in the band is absolutely incredible, from Tsakane and Jo's beautiful soft voices, to the deep mix with Nick's baritone, meshed together with tenors Geoff and David, Amici Forever is truely amazing!

"Prayer in the Night" is most likely the one of the more popular tracks on the album, and it truely described vocally how incredible the vocal ranges really are in Amici Forever.

"Requiem for a Solider" which was made for the HBO mini series Band of Brothers has a catchy melody, and is very instrumental in a lot of ways with very few solos. It really captures a powerful, slow and dark type of feeling.

"Canto All Vita" has to be one of my favorite tracks from Amici Forever, and I personally, enjoyed the arrangement of this tune better that the Josh Groban/Corrs version (not to knock Josh in anyway). It opens with Nick's deep baritone voice, which then comes together with Tsakane's to make a truely unique sound. Then it runs into Geoff and Jo singing, before David joins in vocally at the end. It's a true piece of art.

"Vita Mia" is another one on the album that I truely love. Geoff sings in English for it, and the mix between Italian and English, softer vocals with more hard masculine ones, definately goes in the favor of this tune.

"Olympia Eternal Flame" is a bonus track on this album and it sounds amazing. The song was done for BBC's coverage of the 2004 Olympics in Athens. And it definately has that uplifting, honoring and strong overall characteristic. It sounds fabulous!

I give the album 5/5. I like the special edition better than the US verion because it has more songs, and no remixes :)

AMICI FOREVER ARE THE ORIGINAL OPERA BAND - all others are just 'pretenders to the title'.

I have just read the review by Bob - to clarify this Special Edition is the same as the original version with a couple of added extra tracks - hence Special Edition so there obviously is not much of a difference!!

Having said that, the extra tracks are beautiful, but Amici are best appreciated live on stage where you can really appreciate their individual styles, which then blend together.

If you want to hear different tracks then buy Defined there second Original Album and not a re-issue as is this Special Edition Opera Band.

There is now talk of a 3rd Album which I await in anticipation.

Just adding another glowing review - buy the CD, give it to your friends and family, blast it in your car with the top down. I would also recommend another brand new group with the same concept - Il Divo (ignore that Simon Cowell put them together) - their professional experience and voices 'sing' for themselves.

Having grown up with classical music,and still in my 30's, I've always disliked stereotyping opera as boring and and unappealing. I hope that with this infusion of talent will have hoards of new fans marching to the Symphony halls to see what it's all about.

OK. This is not an album for opera purists. Not all renditions are exactly "authentic" classical performances. However, I love the arrangements and harmonies presented by this ensemble of young artists, as well as what I perceive to be the European sensibility of some the more popular numbers. Even the old sure-fire opera clunkers (that everyone loves, anyway) have been given fresh, new life by the arranger here. I liked the ad hype, and I love the album. It's a marketing coup and an aural delight.

Having bought this album just recently I cannot get over the fantastic talents that are Amici forever. I was even lucky enough to recently see them in the US in concert at Atlantic City last weekend and live they are even more sensational. They are true stars and their album is the best of the best. So put away the rest and buy The Opera Band. If you like opera but in bite size chunks, sung beautifully, this is one you should definitely add to your WISH LIST now.

I have to admit, I am a sucker for classical, anything classical, the remote taste of classical and I'm hooked. But, it wasn't one of their classical crossovers that hooked me, it was Whisper of Angels which caught me in their net. My friend made me listen to it, and I was hooked invariably forever.

The brighter soprano, Jo Appleby, just makes my kness weak, and the bass baratone, Nick Garrett is absolutely amazing, he adds the deep, richness undertones to all of the songs. Tsakane Valentine, the other soprano, has a softer, richer voice, it's definately a lower range soprano, because Jo Appleby tends to outshine Tsakane with her very clear voice. The two tenors, Geoff Sewell and David Habbin are just amazing.

When I bought the album, I listened to it for hours on end. If mine didn't have a large scratch in it, it'd still be in my CD player, playing away happily. I plan on buying a new one as soon as I have the money.

This music is inspiring, honestly, Band of Brothers, Zadok the Priest, Senza Cante (Unchained Melody), Prayer in the Night, all of them are just breath taking, it truly makes me want to pick up my voice lessons and get my vocal chords trained even better.

I will warn you, though, that if you're really not into opera, if you don't like the sound of the operatic voice, perhaps look into Amici Forever first. Go to their website and watch the music video for Senza Cante, or listen to clips of the music, make sure you love it before you buy it. There's no sense in wasting amazing art.

First heard the Opera Band on TV and forget their name. Failed to find them on the Net as I did not have their correct name. Went into the local music store and there they were again in the background. Worth buying for their version of Lux Aeterna and Zadok the Priest. Looking forward to their next offering.

This quintet of gorgeous young singers from Europe and South Africa bring opera to a new generation who is so familiar with pop bands and pop singers. Their looks alone are enough to turn heads as well as their voices which blend well. I've seen Amici Forever perform live and the choreography and sets really bring a fresh perspective to what most people would think of as stuffy old opera. Each singer takes turns singing lead vocals on each song and they don't over power each other's vocals like Il Divo.
Definitely give this album a try!

I'm truly impressed! Opera is known to bore many to sleep but the what makes the Opera Band so impressing apart form the attracting band members is that it easy to listen although I don't understand the lyrics to their stunning voices and harmonies. It is one of those CD's that every one must buy because if your not a opera fan this will change the way you think of opera and the beautiful music it is truly indescribable. With out a doubt the Opera Band has a very successful future.

I HAVE JUST READ THAT BILLBOARD MAGAZINE HAVE RATED THIS ALBUM THE 2ND BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR.....ONE BEHIND JOSH GROBAN'S CLOSER THE ONLY MISTAKE THEY MADE IS THAT THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT #1 !!! IT IS TRULY SENSATIONAL AND THE VOICES ARE MAGNIFICIENT.
IF THIS IS THE KIND OF MUSIC YOU LISTEN TO YOU WOULD BE DOING YOURSELF A KINDNESS IN TREATING YOURSELF TO IT.

ALL THE TRACKS ARE SUPERB AND EVEN THE BONUS TRACKS (WHICH ARE INVARIABLY NOT UP TO STANDARD) ARE GLORIOUS.

THIS BAND DESERVES TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND IS THE MOST REFRESHING THING TO COME OUT OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR A DECADE AT LEAST!

EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU LIKE OPERA (UNFORTUNATE TITLE BY THE WAY!) YOU WILL LOVE AMICI FOREVER - AS IT JUST HAS EVERYTHING AND THE ORCHESTRAL ARRANGEMENTS AS WELL AS THE VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE SIMPLY MOUTHWATERING.

PERSONALLY I ONLY HOPE THEY RELEASE A FOLLOW UP SOON OR I WILL HAVE WORN THIS ONE AWAY!!

A HUGE FAN OF AMICI FOREVER