The Band That Changed My Mind (The Opera Band - Amici Forever)

Member Name: fooyoo

Product:	The Opera Band - Amici Forever
Date:	07/11/04 (471 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice background music, Refreshing sound

Disadvantages: May not be true to the originals so purists may not like it

As many of you know, I love music, and try to experience and enjoy as many types of music as I can, however as hard as I try, there are 3 types of music I really struggle to enjoy, or even appreciate. They are country and western, jazz and finally classical. I was having a discussion with another member of this site, and they recommended that I try watching the Classic FM channel on Sky. I duly took their advice, and saw a track by ‘The Opera Band’, and whilst it didn’t immediately grab me, I took enough notice of it to look out for it on one of my outings to my local library. I got it about 2 months ago, and it has opened my ears somewhat to classical music.

There are 12 tracks on this album which was released at the beginning of 2004.

Prayer In The Night (Sarabande)
Senza Catene (Unchained Melody)
Canto Alla Vita
Vita Mia
Requiem For A Soldier (Band Of Brothers)
Whisper Of Angels (Pavane)
Pearl Fishers (Au Fond du Temple Saint)
Soave Sia il Vento (Cosi Fan Tutte)
Nimrod (Lux Aeterna)
Song To The Moon (Rusalka)
Zadok the Priest
Nessum Dorma (Turandot)

The Opera Band are actually a quintet of classically trained musicians, who have a much purer sound than others I have heard. (Don’t even get me started on G4 who are currently on The X Factor). There are 2 sopranos which are clear to hear on the tracks, 2 tenors, and a basso, which is a term I was not familiar with, although from the sound, it would seem that this is a tone lower than the tenor.

It is a pretty light album in terms of how the music affects you, but that is in now way a criticism, as in the past I have not enjoyed classical music which I have found to be a sound that can overtake even the thoughts in your head!! This album is full of songs which sit nicely in the background waiting to be listened to and appreciated, but not demanding you to do so. This group succeed where the likes of Bond have failed, as they do try to make the music more modern and appealing, but they don’t rely on changing the tempo too much, and leave it down to the arrangements which are fresh and easy on the ear. They take familiar songs and mix them with no so well known tracks to ensure that the listener has a good balanced dose of the music, and I for one did enjoy it.

The album is not something I would sit and listen to intently, but as background accompaniment to a meal or a book it is an excellent choice, and I have since added it to my collection for the bargain price of £4 from Ebay. This is the kind of album that classical avoiders should try out, as it may just be the one that changes their mind.

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