Opera Band [ENHANCED] [EXTRA TRACKS] [IMPORT]

Laurence Cottle (Performer), Georges Bizet (Composer), Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Edward Elgar (Composer), Antonio / Dettori, Giuseppe Galbiati (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Michael Kamen (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Alex North (Composer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), James Shearman (Composer), Amy Sky (Composer), John Francis Wade (Composer), Peter / Wolf, Michelle / Fornaciari, Zucchero Wolf (Composer), Nick Ingman (Conductor), John Paracelli (Performer), John Parricelli (Performer), Tsakane Valentine (Performer), The Budapest Film Orchestra (Orchestra), Miles Bould (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Laurence Cottle, John Paracelli, John Parricelli, Tsakane Valentine, Miles Bould
• Orchestra: The Budapest Film Orchestra
• Conductor: Nick Ingman
• Composer: Georges Bizet, Antonin Dvorak, Edward Elgar, Antonio / Dettori, Giuseppe Galbiati, George Frederick Handel, et al.
• Audio CD (January 1, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Extra tracks, Import
• Label: BMG
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B0000C24K7
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #175,118 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Asian edition of the classical crossover act's 2003 album features 15 tracks including 3 exclusive bonus tracks, 'Adeste Fidelis' ('O Come All Ye Faithful'), 'Prayer In The Night' ('Cala La Notte') (Classic Mix), & 'Whisper Of Angels' (based on Faure's 'Pavane') (Classic Mix). Arista/BMG.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath Taking , February 6, 2005

By	SashaHM (Miami, FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opera Band (Audio CD)

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 :)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amici going from strength to strength, March 22, 2006

By	P. M. Smith "Amici Pat" (Isle of Wight UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Opera Band (Audio CD)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent cross over with out compromise!, April 9, 2005

By	V. Palley "VPB" (Reston, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opera Band (Audio CD)

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.