Music from a Farther Room

Lucia Micarelli

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 27, 2004)
• Original Release Date: July 27, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise Records
• ASIN: B0002GU2NM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,680 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( P ) > Piazzolla, Astor
  #3 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( S ) > Sibelius, Jean
  #3 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( R ) > Ravel, Maurice

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Josh Groban fans who caught the singer's 2004 Closer tour would no doubt take note of Lucia Micarelli, who was the violinist and concertmaster for Groban. Like her boss, who also is executive producer of Music From A Farther Room, Micarelli is a young, attractive, and talented player who has the classical training, but who is also enchanted with pop music. Also like her boss, her strain of classical crossover works thanks to tasteful accompaniment, in this case from arranger/composer Paul Schwartz. The smartly chosen program of material comes from such varied catalogs as David Bowie and Rogers and Hart. Micarelli's playing is emotional without being overreaching, assertive when called upon, and nuanced. When she does go over-the-top pop on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," it's brief but fun; when she navigates Piazzolla’s "Oblivion" she draws upon the song's passion more than its technical requisites. This is a debut with likeable pizzazz, coming in a genre not often enough known for it. -- Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

For anyone who has attended Josh Groban's phenomenal live show, you will have undoubtedly had the pleasure of seeing and hearing his lead violinist, Lucia Micarelli. Lucia came to Josh's tour after appearing with the Trans- Siberian Orchestra playing arenas across the U.S. in 2003. With the close of the second leg of Josh's tour, Lucia is recording her debut album in New York and London with producer Paul Schwartz. Musical selections will range from the works of composers Ravel and Ennio Morricone to David Bowie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something Beautiful This Way Comes, February 15, 2005

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

On stage with Josh Groban, Lucia stands barefoot on the stage in a flowing blue taffeta gown standing almost on her toes like a ballerina as she reaches for that exclusive note. Groban generously acknowledges her brilliance, serves as executive producer on this CD and cites it from the stage, which led to this wonderful disc playing in my home. On "Music from A Farther Room," Lucia blazes a superb trail. The Paul Schwartz opener "Samarkand" throbs and pulses magically. From there to "Oblivion," a touching moving piece with Lucia making the Hannibal Fagnola Turin violin's tones swell majestically. Some of David Bowie's work has been greatly underrated for its musicality, but it's safe to say that Lucia takes "Lady Grinning Soul" from Bowie's 1973 "Aladdin Sane" LP to places only she (and now we through her) could have envisioned. The "Ravel String Quintet in F Major" is gloriously stunning with its pixie-like strings juxtaposed with Lucia's weeping violin. Leigh Nash adds the lone vocal on the Celtic-inflected "She is Like the Swallow." When I saw Josh Groban in Raleigh, his opening act Chris Botti played a jazz version of "My Funny Valentine." Putting that & Lucia's versions side by side is a study in how the same melody can yield vastly different feelings in the hands of different artists. Micharelli closes the set as stunningly as she began in the breathtaking "Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody" that marries a Paul Schwartz orchestral beginning to Queen's Freddy Mercury's rock classic. From beginning to end, Lucia Micharelli takes us to emotional places, exquisitely feeling, spanning centuries. What a talented debut from this young performer! Bravo!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Didn't Want To Give 5 Stars, But......, December 17, 2005

By	G-Dexter (Lakewood, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I am a huge music fan and my interests span many styles. I love progressive rock, ambient/tribal music, jazz, rhythm and blues, and I LOVE classical chamber music. Perhaps not surprisingly, I've always found a close correlation between chamber music and the progressive rock movements. Both types of music combine precise and thoughtful composition, thematic continuity and a rigorous requirement for outstanding musicianship. Some of my favorite prog-rock pieces include lush orchestration as a supplement to the heavy electric sound of contemporary instruments; the mid-70's works of Jethro Tull jump to mind.

That being said, I've never really enjoyed "cross-over" music. I've always felt uncomfortable with established classical musicians trying their hand at "rock music." There's nothing creepier than the respected and revered artists trying to be something they are not; Sills singing disco or Perlman playing Nirvana. Okay, that may be extreme, but my point is - the attempt is usually feckless, uninspired and doomed to mediocrity.

Recently, my son and I attended a concert by the aforementioned band, Jethro Tull. We were absolutely blown out of our seats by a beautiful, barefooted wisp of a girl who came out on stage and stole the show from the grizzled veteran rockers with her charm, grace and unquestionable talent. She played a combination of violin-flute duets with Tull's front man, Ian Anderson, and absolutely floored the audience with a beautifully touching version of the Sibelius violin concerto, here labeled AURORA. From that point on, I was hooked! Not only did she play the classical pieces with great skill and emotion, but she absolutely rocked on classic Tull tunes, KASHMIR by Led Zeppelin, and her own stunning arrangement of Queen's BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY.

This CD is a beautiful debut and she has earned hundreds, if not thousands of life long fans with her brave choice of touring with popular musicians of all genre's. I didn't want to like this CD, but I ended up loving it!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music from the Heart, August 5, 2004

A Kid's Review

I may be thirteen, but I know when I hear good music. I have been a fan of Josh Groban's for several years. When I went to Groban's Nashville concert, and saw Lucia directing the violins with fluid movements, and still playing flawlessly, I knew her upcoming CD would be one to treausure. I bought a few days ago, and have not stopped listening to it since. My favorite is either Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody, or She is like the Sparrow. Leigh Nash's very simple yet entrancing voice complements Micarelli's weaving violin.

This is definatly a CD you will wish to have, and will enjoy for a long time.

Note: There was a mess-up in the pressing, and track five is messed up, but you can send the CD into WB, and they will replace it.

www.luciamicarelli.com