Tenors Un Limited, Carnegie Hall
Thursday, 16th Feb 2012Tenors Un Limited Bring Their UK Tour To Dunfermline
“THE RAT-PACK OF OPERA”
Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline
Saturday 3rd March
Tickets: £16.00
www.onfife.com
01383 602302
www.tenorsunlimited.com
The elegant sound of Tenors Un Limited is set to fill theatres across the UK. In their current live shows the three singers strip back the scale of previous performances, and in certain segments play just alongside a piano – this less is more approach leads to concerts that are not only more personal but also more powerful, with the true majesty of their voices proving the unmistakeable focus.
“Fantastic… a unique and wonderfully entertaining act” – Lord Richard Attenborough
“They shivered the timbers” – Evening Standard
“Bravi!” - Sting
‘Viva La Vita’ sees ‘The Rat Pack Of Opera’ recording greatly-requested numbers from their live shows, garnishing each song with fresh, unique arrangements. In addition, ‘Viva La Vita’ includes two original compositions penned by the band themselves –‘Fall In Love’ and the title track.
‘Viva La Vita’ is an expression of Tenors Un Limited at their finest, a distillation of the charm and wit they bring to their diverse live shows. When choosing the tracklist for this, their second album, Scott Ciscon, Jem Sharples and baritone Paul Martin decided to record what would be their definitive takes on some much-loved classics – many of which have long been a feature of their live performances, but which have never been available for fans to own until now. So ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ appears as the band confess “it’s part of who we are!”
For the band themselves, ‘Viva La Vita’ represents a musical journey, taking in not just the classical numbers with which they’ve made their name – such as ‘Volare’ and a spellbinding rendition of ‘Impossible Dream’ – but also contemporary pieces, like the refreshingly new take on ‘Unchained Melody’ – “We hope that there is something that will not only interest but surprise everyone.” Once again working with their long time Musical Director Kennedy Aitchison, the boys were keen for even the most familiar of songs on ‘Viva La Vita’ to sound brand new. As a result much of the music was arranged from scratch, leading to wonderfully invigorating renditions of the likes of The Gershwin Brothers’ ‘Summertime’, which now builds itself around a slinkily laidback bass. Scott confesses that the first time the band heard how Aitchison had approached ‘Unchained Melody’, “we were really surprised by it …within the first 25 seconds it takes you somewhere completely unexpected, I can’t wait to perform it live.”
As for the original material on the album, both songs came about swiftly and with the full collaboration of all three band members. ‘Fall In Love’ was inspired by the beautiful Italian city of Sorrento, a place very close to Scott’s heart. Meanwhile the album’s title track was sketched by Jem and then brainstormed by the entire band, with West End and film/TV composer Evan Jolly adding orchestration. Both numbers slide easily into place alongside their more familiar counterparts on the album, with ‘Viva La Vita’ serving as a fine opener for an album that strides across genres and periods with consummate grace.
Formed in 2002, Tenors Un Limited have entertained many diverse audiences worldwide, and have performed at some of the largest events, such as in front of 90,000 people before the 2011 FA Cup Final. They have also sung alongside the likes of Sting, Beyonce, Lionel Ritchie and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
‘Viva La Vita’ is an album that once again pushes the boundaries of what a classically trained contemporary band can achieve. Full of the sophistication, verve and charm that has come to typify Tenors Un Limited, it is an album that truly solidifies their position as ‘The Rat Pack Of Opera.’
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