Beyond Imagination

by Opera Babes

Overview

There's more to the Opera Babes than what meets the eye. Yes, they're blonde and attractive, and they favor slinky outfits emblazoned with animal prints. But mezzo Karen England and soprano Rebecca Knight bring plenty of substance along with their style. They're serious musicians whose aim it is to attract a wider and younger audience to a medium they love. Their goal, England says, is "to make opera and classical music less intimidating." As such, this debut album offers an assortment of decidedly unconventional versions of popular arias and familiar themes. Selections such as Puccini's "Un Bel Di," Delibes's "Flower Duet," Orff's "O Fortuna," and Verdi's "Vittoria," as well as adaptations of melodies by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Dvorak, among others, boast eclectic arrangements that showcase the diverse imaginations of producers such as Frank Gallagher, Anne Dudley, and Jim Steinman. But regardless of the setting, the clear, bright voices of England and Knight always shine through. Purists and hard-liners may not take to the duo's somewhat freewheeling approach, but open-minded listeners will surely discover that "serious" music can be fun.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/14/2003
Label:	Sony Classical
UPC:	0696998780323
Rank:	142729

Tracks

1. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera~Un Bel Di, arranged as song: One Fine Day
2. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16~arranged as song: Sempre Ricordo
3. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ("From the New World"), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5)~arranged as song: There's a Place
4. A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61~arranged as song: Beyond Imagination
5. Carmina Burana, scenic cantata for soloists, choruses & orchestra~O Fortuna
6. Lakm¿¿, opera~Flower Duet "Lakm¿¿ H20"
7. La Wally, opera (dramma musicale) in 4 acts~Ebben?... ne andr¿¿ lontana
8. Nuovo cinema paradiso, film score (aka Cinama Paradiso)~You Live On In My Heart
9. Carmen, opera~Chanson Boh¿¿me
10. Remember Me
11. Kismet, musical (after works by Alexander Borodin)~Stranger in Paradise
12. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral"), Op. 125~Ode to Joy, arranged as song: Ode II Joy
13. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~1001 Nights
14. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts~Barcarolle
15. Lakm¿¿, opera~Flower Duet "VibeTribe Mix"
16. Ellens Gesang III ("Ave Maria"), song for voice & piano, D. 839 (Op. 52/6)
17. Aida, opera~Triumphal March, arranged as song: Vittoria!

Album Credits

Performance Credits

OperaBabes   Primary Artist,Vocal Ensemble
Kodo   Primary Artist,Drums,Ensemble
Juan Martin   Primary Artist,Guitar
Nick Ingman   Conductor
Cliff Masterson   Conductor
David Hartley   Piano
Wayne Wilkins   Keyboards
John Parricelli   Guitar
London Session Orchestra   Orchestra
Jon Cohen   Piano,Keyboards
Millennia Strings   Orchestra
Metro Voices   Choir/Chorus
Richard Cottle   Keyboards
Frank Ricotti   Percussion
Jeff Bova   Keyboards
Paul Wynne Griffiths   Conductor
Laurence Lottle   Bass
Mitchell Dalton   Guitar
Maida Vale Singers   Choir/Chorus
Karen England   Mezzo-Soprano (Vocal)
Arte Flamenco Puro   Ensemble
City Strings Orchestra   Orchestra
Rebecca Knight   Soprano (Vocal)
Peter Hajioff   Bass
London Symphony Orchestra   Orchestra
Gavyn Wright   Orchestra Leader
Paul Clarvis   Percussion
Mitch Dalton   Guitar
Ivor Goldberg   Guitar
Luis Jardim   Ethnic Percussion

Technical Credits

Nick Ingman   Orchestration
Cliff Masterson   Orchestration
Frank Gallagher   Mixing,Arranger,Producer,Orchestration
Frank Musker   Composer,Lyricist
Edvard Grieg   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Giuseppe Verdi   Composer
Scotty Wiseman   Composer
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky   Composer
Wayne Wilkins   Mixing,Programming
Niall Acott   Engineer,Recording
Mike Ross-Trevor   Engineer
Ludwig van Beethoven   Composer
George Forrest   Composer,Lyricist
George Shilling   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Giacomo Puccini   Composer
Carl Orff   Composer
Georges Bizet   Composer,Orchestration
Robert Wright   Composer,Lyricist
Jon Cohen   Arranger,Producer,Programming
Rick Blaskey   Executive Producer
Robert Rosenberg   Management
Q-D   Design
Mitch Jenkins   Photography
Bill Curbishley   Management
Nicola Powell   Management
Steve Price   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Phil Da Costa   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Deni Lew   Lyricist
Denny Lew   Arranger
Christopher Dee   Leader
Robert Whitney   Mastering
Franz Schubert   Composer
Jacques Offenbach   Composer
Antonin Dvorak   Composer
Richard Cottle   Programming
Alexander Borodin   Composer
Ennio Morricone   Composer
Jeff Bova   Programming
Juan Martin   Musician
Phil Coulter   Composer
Jim Steinman   Producer
Mike Tross-Trevor   Recording
Lynne McAdam   Management
Noely   Producer
Claudio Dentes   Composer,Lyricist
Steven Rinkoff   Mixing,Engineer
Nicky Graham   A&R
Avi Geller   Arranger,Producer
Rebecca Knight   Composer,Lyricist
Paul McCartney   Composer
Andrea Morricone   Composer
Everton Nelson   Leader
Alfredo Catalani   Composer,Orchestration
Stuart Hamblen   Composer
Anne Dudley   Arranger,Producer,Orchestration
Adam Brown   Engineer,Recording
Gavyn Wright   Leader
Marcia Crayford   Leader