Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Nice Surprise by a Wonderful Group of Musicians, January 18, 2004
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.
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72 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A smashing success that breathes new life into classics, January 13, 2004
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.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This group isn't a crossover, it's a transcendence ... if only there were 10 stars to give!, September 3, 2005
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!
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