Customer Reviews

The Opera Band

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I'm not sure I knew what to expect from Amici Forever's THE OPERA BAND. When I first saw the recording, I think I expected it to be a somewhat cheesy attempt at making classical music and opera more mainstream. I am a believer that most classical music is good enough to stand on its own, and a quality performance does more to help people appreciate good music than any attempts to modernize the music. I probably thought I would view the album as nice, but somewhat lightweight fluff. What I found when I listened was a very pleasing album by five very talented vocalists and a lush orchestra which accompanies them. It has the pleasurable characteristics that make popular music enjoyable and a professionalism that gives the recording quality.

The five members of this group are all classically trained musicians, all for whom have exceptional voices as well as the ability for ensemble performances. The album contains contemporary music: some pop, others semi-classical pieces, as well as vocal tunes set to classical works and of course arias and duets from the world of opera. The arrangements are unique as "Senza Catene" (their version of "Unchained Melody") demonstrates. Their arrangements of songs set to the works of Elgar, Handel, and Faure are moving and well performed. While their renditions of the opera pieces are somewhat popularized, which may be to the chagrin of some opera buffs, there is a beauty to the arrangements and their vocal abilities do the pieces justice. Of course, since opera fans have been subjected to boy band wannabees who attempt to sing some of these same works and young people whose voices are hardly ready to tackle the likes of the great opera composers, maybe it is pleasing just to hear popular singers who can do give their works their due.

My guess is that this recording is not the last we will hear ffrom Amici Forever. Their popular appeal in Europe and their matinee idol good looks will probably ensure television specials and successful concert tours. With their musical talenst they should have wonderful careers, though it should be interesting if their foray into a more popular music genre will hurt their chances at starring on the stages of the major opera houses. Still, this collection is well done and will be enjoyed by people with a variety of musical tastes.

Amici Forever is a British classical crossover group made up of five classically trained singers from around the globe (Britain, South Africa, and New Zealand). The two sopranos, two tenors and bass baritone blend together beautifully on the twelve tracks, which feature a blend of classical (Zadok the Priest, Whisper of Angels), opera (Nessun Dorma, Au fond du temple saint), pop (Unchained Melody, Canto Alla Vita), and soundtrack selections (the requiem from "Band of Brothers").

The music shifts between delicate orchestral backing (Nessun Dorma, Au fond du temple saint from Delibes' The Pearl Fishers) and dance/electronic elements (Prayer in the Night, based on Handel's Sarabande, with an insistent bass line and dance beats underscoring the melody). The orchestration is brilliant, always supporting the voices but never overpowering. The songs are most often in Italian, although Latin and French make brief appearances as well.

Kudos to Amici Forever for choosing lesser-recorded songs (Zadok the Priest, Au fond du temple saint, Handel's Sarabande) in addition to the heavies like Nessun Dorma and Fauré's Pavane, and for experimenting with newer material with classical potential (Band of Brothers, Canto Alla Vita, Unchained Melody). The excellent production values and vocal purity brings to mind British soprano Izzy's American debut A New Dawn.

My only gripe would be the omission of the beautiful Adeste Fidelis present on the British version of Opera Band (which also includes the classic mixes of Prayer in the Night and Whisper of Angels). Overall, I see nothing that could improve upon the tranquil beauty and sheer aural delight of Amici Forever. This album is perfect for daydreaming and relaxing to at the end of a stressful day.

As an Emotional Intelligence coach, I'm well aware of the abilities of music - the right kind of music - to transport us, soothe and delight us, and even to bolster our immune system. We convert the right kind of music (as Pythagorus knew) into brain waves, and if it's alpha you're after, or even deeper, this is the CD for you. It's no wonder the Greeks made the god of music the god of healing as well.

While the reviewer says we don't need another version of "Nessun Dorma," I beg to differ. We needed this one, and I've heard a few. The voices are magnificent, and the orchestration is just the way I would've done it, and I hope Puccini would have as well.

As someone who 'discovered' "Unchained Melody" long before, long before ... this version transcends them all. One of the most beautiful melodies ever written, and especially impacting if you understand the circumstances behind its creation, the Opera Band does it justice. It only needed to be called "Senza Catene" and put to Italian, which, as George V felt, is the language for speaking to men. Spanish to talk to God, French to talk to the soldiers, and German to talk to one's horse - :-)

"Whisper of Angels" -- it's the quintessential falling-in-love song. The lyrics -- "I was yours before the first morn broke..." ... "I'll be the shadows at twilight ..."

My favorite, if I must name one, "Prayer in the Night." Mssr. Nick Garret, our talented bass, has a way of anchoring the pain you'll never forget, as he does in "Senza Catene." If you're a bass-lover, like I am, listen up. They never get the good arias ... until now.

Buy the album and enjoy. It's probably good for your health!

This is an absolutely beautiful CD. I played this at a dinner party and it appealed to a variety of ages and people who hadn't been exposed to this style of music. Some songs literally bring tears to my eyes. Great CD

I never write music reviews, but I'm making an exception in this case. As the daughter of an opera singer, and a musician myself, I grew up with a lot of the music on this CD. All I can say is it is one of the most moving albums I now own. The voices compliment each other, the delivery appears effortless, the musical arrangements excellent. I sincerely hope we get the opportunity to hear more of Amici. I, for one, will be standing in line waiting for their next CD on the day it is released.

I can't honestly I am a huge opera fan. I think a lot of it is annoying and over the top but in the past couple of years my opinion of the genre has changed because of artists like Sarah Brightman, Sasha Lazard, Josh Groban, and Opera Babes have given the music an accessible edge that I don't hear in Pavoratti (who I think is a big, overrrated bore). Amici is another group of singers who are classically trained in opera music that I have recently got into. I just found a copy of Amici's debut album "The Opera Band" in the used bins today. I noticed that the group is on the same label of my favorite classical-pop quartet Bond. I guess I could say that Amici is Bond's equivalent in the operatic department. "The Opera Band" is a 47 minute opus of some of the most beautiful singing that someone like me (who can't stand old school opera music) has ever heard. Unlike Opera Babes (another crossover act I do enjoy immensely), Amici didn't go the obvious route in song selections. They didn't go with the standard opera songs like "O Fortuna" or "Flower Duet" (two beautiful but overplayed operatic songs). There are moments of cheese though on the cd like the Italian version of "Unchained Melody" which goes under the name of "Senza Catene". As much as I loathe the Righteous Brothers' version, I can't help but love Amici's rendition of the usually cheesy ballad. Cheesy but it is a good song. Very beautiful. Anyone who has the new Josh Groban cd "Closer" will recognize "Canto Alla Vita" which Amici sings. I loved all the songs on the cd however I must say that the group's interpretation of Elgar's "Nimrod" totally took my breath away. Both the women and men sang well. No one pulled a Celine Dion in the oversinging department. Their singing was well controlled and their voices doesn't overwhelm each other. If "The Opera Band" is a sign to what to expect from Amici, then I am looking forward to hearing more music from the talented five young opera singers.

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 am a shameless Amici Forever Fan... and have sometimes lamented my lack of knowledge about all things opera.

After reading many of the reviews, I'm begining to be grateful that I can listen to glorious music .. allow it to touch my soul and move me to tears, without having to analyse the orchestrations and the vocal range and pronunciations of the performers.

How sad to not just ' hear'... 'feel'...'be moved' by music, to have it touch your soul and make you weep with the pure joy and emotion it evokes.

I posess Andrea Bocelli cds, compilation cds featuring Placido Domingo and other operatic artists. I have no basis for comparing these with Amici..

I know that when I listen to this cd, (on a daily basis) my spirits soar, I am filled with joy from the pure pleasure of hearing all the tracks and I have never been so moved by music as I have with this cd.

And for all of the above reasons, this cd gets 5 stars from me.. a mere mortal who knows practically nothing about opera and the technicalities of music, and is frankly quite grateful for that..I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is an outstanding CD! I admit that opera has never been my musical genre of choice - but the title of the CD, "AMICI FOREVER - The Opera Band", piqued my curiosity. The performances here are a seamless union of modern and classical music. Each of the five members of the group possesses outstanding talent and range. Most memorable for me is "Whispers of Angels", based on Faure's Pavane. The music transports you through space, effortlessly and gently - yet speaks to the heart with tremendous intensity. I will be anxiously awaiting their next release! Amici Forever, indeed!

I've had this CD for two weeks now and can't get enough of it. It's beautiful music, they have lovely voices, and it's a joy overall. I'm hoping they release another CD very soon, I'll be looking for it.