Amici Forever is a band of four classically trained singers who mix opera with pop music (operatic pop). The band's first album, The Opera Band (2004), reached number one on the Australian classical charts, number two on the United States (US) classical charts and the top 5 in the United Kingdom (UK) classical charts.

Amici Forever
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresOpera
Pop
Operatic Pop
Years active2002–present
LabelsSony/BMG, Arista, RCA
MembersLucy van Gasse
Bruno Santino
David Habbin
Tsakane Valentine
Past membersNick Garrett
Geoff Sewell
Jo Appleby

History

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The members of Amici Forever met when rehearsing and performing at opera venues around the world. The band currently features a tenor, a baritone, and two soprano singers. In 2002 tenor Geoff Sewell, originally from New Zealand, alongside renowned classical crossover manager Nadia Raibin came up with the idea of an "opera band" mixing traditional opera with contemporary pop. One of the original five members, Nick Garrett, a bass-baritone, left the group in August 2005 to pursue a solo career, shortly after the release of Defined.[1] Tenor Geoff Sewell left the group in February 2006 after his daughter Sienna was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).[2] This was just after the highly successful tour of Australia and New Zealand. Amici Forever have celebrated two No 1 albums with The Opera Band and Defined in Geoff Sewell's homeland of New Zealand. He was replaced with Brazilian Italian baritone Bruno Santino. On 20 September 2006 it was announced on the Amici Forever website that Jo Appleby would be leaving the group to pursue a career as a solo artist. Lucy van Gasse was introduced as the newest member of Amici in February 2007.

Amici Forever signed with Arista Records and started playing high-profile gigs such as the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League final in 2003 and the English rugby union final. Nick Patrick, who had produced albums by the Gipsy Kings, Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye produced the band's first album, The Opera Band.

The Opera Band was released on 13 January 2004 and soon reached number 74 in the Billboard 200 album charts and the top 50 of the ARIA Australian album charts. The album has also reached number 2 on the Billboard Classical Crossover and Heatseeker charts. It became number one on the ARIA Australian classical album chart, as well as the top 5 on the UK classical charts. In addition it peaked at #39 in the UK Albums Chart.[3] The album was nominated for "Album of the Year" at the Classical Brit Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall on 26 May 2004 where they also performed the album's signature song 'Prayer in the Night', composed by James Shearman based on Handel's Sarabande, with lyrics by Sam Babenia.

Members

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As of February 2007, the band consisted of:

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[8]
NZ
The Opera Band
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: RCA Victor
  • Format: CD
2 1
  • ARIA: 2xPlatinum[9]
Defined
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: RCA Victor
  • Format: CD
4 1

Video albums

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List of video albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[8]
In Concert
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: RCA Victor
  • Format: DVD
15

References

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  1. ^ Spatz, David, J., "One fewer voice but still in tune", The Record, September 30, 2005 (accessed via subscription 19 May 2010)
  2. ^ Sharp, Ron, "How we're fighting our child’s autism", The Independent, 24 February 2009
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 22. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ Classical X, Amici Welcomes Lucy van Gasse Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Jones, Alice (27 July 2007). "Tsakane Valentine Maswanganyi: From Soweto to the Festival Hall - Features, Music - The Independent". London: www.independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on July 7, 2008. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  6. ^ ArtistsDirect, Amici Forever Biography
  7. ^ Classical X, About Bruno Santino[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 14.}
  9. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  10. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  11. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
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