Beyond Imagination

Operababes: Rebecca Knight, Karen England.

Producers include: Jon Cohen, Noely, Anne Dudley, Frank Gallagher, Jim Steinman, Avi Geller.

Recorded in London, England and New York, New York.

Personnel: Ivor Goldberg, Juan Martín , Mitch Dalton, John Parricelli (guitar); Everton Nelson (strings); Jon Cohen (piano, programming); David Hartley (piano); Richard Cottle, Wayne Wilkins (keyboards, programming); Jeff Bova (keyboards); Kodo (drums); Frank Ricotti, Paul Clarvis, Luis Jardim (percussion).

Recording information: Angel Studios; Hit Factory, NY; Maxium Studios; Olympic Studios, London, England; SARM West Studios; sony Music Studios; Vibe Tribe HQ, London, England; WEstside Studios.

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.

REVIEWS:

New Age Voice (01/03, p.12) - "...The OperaBabes are revitalizing a dying art form, making opera cool again for a whole new generation..."

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Works Details

Puccini, Giacomo : Madama Butterfly :: Un Bel Di, arranged as song

Performers: Kodo (Drums); Opera Babes; Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Conductor: Cliff Masterson
Notes: Composition written: 1904.
Running Time: 3 min. sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1904

Grieg, Edvard : Concerto for Piano in A minor, Op. 16 :: arranged as song

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Opera Babes
Conductor: Paul Griffiths
Running Time: 5 min. 22 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Concerto
Written: 1868

Antonin Dvorák (1841 - 1904) : Symphony no 9 in E minor, Op. 95/B 178 "From the New World" :: arrang

Performers: Jon Cohen (Piano); Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Opera Babes; Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Notes: Composition written: 01/10/1893-05/24/1893.
Running Time: 4 min. 36 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Orchestral

Mendelssohn, Felix : A Midsummer Night's Dream :: arranged as song

Performers: Ivor Goldberg (Guitar); Jon Cohen (Piano); Opera Babes; Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 5 min. 3 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1843

Orff, Carl : Carmina burana :: O Fortuna

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Opera Babes; Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Running Time: 2 min. 53 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Cantata/Oratorio
Written: 1935-1936

Léo Delibes (1836 - 1891) : Lakmé :: Flower Duet "Lakmé H20"

Performers: Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Opera Babes
Running Time: 4 min. 3 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1883

Catalani, Alfredo : La Wally :: Ebben?... ne andrò lontana

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Opera Babes; Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Conductor: Paul Griffiths
Running Time: 3 min. 41 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1892

Morricone, Ennio : Cinema Paradiso :: You Live On In My Heart

Performers: Opera Babes; Ivor Goldberg (Guitar); Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); David Hartley (Piano); Mitchell Dalton (Guitar)
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 3 min. 52 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Film Score
Written: 1988

Bizet, Georges : Carmen, opera :: Chanson Bohème

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Opera Babes; Paul Clarvis (Percussion); Juan Martin (Guitar)
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 4 min. 23 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1873-1874

Coulter, Phil : Remember Me

Performers: John Parricelli (Guitar); Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Richard Cottle (Keyboards); Opera Babes; Wayne Wilkins (Programming); Wayne Wilkins (Keyboards); Paul Clarvis (Percussion); Richard Cottle (Programming); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 3 min. 32 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

George Forrest / Robert W : Kismet, musical (after works by Alexander Borodin) :: Stranger in Paradise

Performers: Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Opera Babes
Running Time: 4 min. 20 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1953

Beethoven, Ludwig van : Symphony no 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" :: Ode to Joy, arranged as song

Performers: Opera Babes; Richard Cottle (Programming); Richard Cottle (Keyboards); John Parricelli (Guitar); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Rebecca Knight (Soprano)
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 3 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Orchestral
Written: 1824

Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich : Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a :: 1001 Nights

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Opera Babes; Frank Ricotti (Percussion); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Running Time: 3 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1892

Offenbach, Jacques : Gaîté Parisienne :: Barcarolle

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Opera Babes
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 2 min. 43 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta

Léo Delibes (1836 - 1891) : Lakmé :: Flower Duet "VibeTribe Mix"

Performers: Opera Babes; Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano)
Running Time: 2 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1883

Schubert, Franz : Ave Maria

Performers: Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Opera Babes
Conductor: Nick Ingman
Running Time: 3 min. 56 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1825

Verdi, Giuseppe : Aida, opera :: Triumphal March, arranged as song

Performers: Jon Cohen (Programming); Jon Cohen (Keyboards); Karen England (Mezzo-Soprano); Rebecca Knight (Soprano); Jeff Bova (Keyboards); Jeff Bova (Programming); Opera Babes
Notes: Composition written: 1871.
Running Time: 3 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1871

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