Emma Shapplin

i love the CD, the only problem is with the vidoe format. i'm having a heck of a time just downloading the music part to my computer. it works fine in a CD player, just the audio, but the video comes on automatically when i run it on my main comp. i love the music so i'll figure out to get around this. i'm not much with comp. tech stuff, buit i'll figure it out. once again the music is beautiful.
r

Although the music is well done, I found the reviews were overly generous in evaluating the pleasures of listening to this CD. It's a tape I will listen to occasionally and enjoy it, it won't be as often as I had hoped.

Emma Shapplin has such a beautiful voice. I left this cd in a hotel room along with the rest of my favorites, luckily they found it and mailed it back. I am very impressed with her vocal ability and the music is simply divine!

This is an amazing album, beautifully recorded. Its pop-ified classic Italian style mixed with the lyrics derived from "old Italian" and hints at classical melody make for a real delight. Extremely powerful vocals that pierce through the dark aesthetic like the beacon of a lighthouse through a dense fog at night. If you're a fan of Opratica, or a fan of Sara Brightman who wishes she would take her lyrics more seriously, you will love this album.
While many compare Emma Shapplin to Sara Brightman, there are some notable differences. First is the raw power of Emma's voice versus that of Sara. While Sara Brightman is an exceptionally talented artist, I would dread her performance without technical augmentation. Emma on the other hand avoids the elaborate digital editing processes to the degree often heard on Brightman albums. Accordingly, it is possible to observe minor performance irregularities. However, such nuanced "flaws" are inherent to all great vocalist, and constitute more of individual stylization than "flaw." The absence of such character in Brightmans recordings simply attests to the overuse of digital augmentation to produce artificially "perfect" recordings, in a fashion akin to air brushing a super model's picture. Played back on high end audio kit you can even here the occasional recoil of a pianos dampening pedal, something which would certainly be edited out of a Brightman recording. All these things attest to the raw and pure integrity of Emma's recording. Additionally, the lyrics, when translated, are much less insipid than the usual Brightman tune. Though Brightman had to marry Andrew Lloyd Webber to launch her career in full, I suspect Emma Shapplin's pure technical talent and more advanced aesthetic sensibility will assure her a successful cross-over career without any such convenient relationships.

The reasons to listen to this album...
Beautiful woman with beautiful voice sings beautiful songs. This album is one of high-class standards of crossover genre (well balanced elements of classical, pop, electronic, New Age and even Celtic music are fused into this new genre). One hit - "Le Notte Eterna" worth the whole album.
I can`t tell you that I`m listening to this CD every day, but when I`m in the mood to hear some calm, light and beautiful but not much serious music - I`m listening to this album.

If you like this style of music, try also CD by
Spanish singer-songwriter Nadia "This Is My Life".
She also plays electronic keyboards and her music is very beautiful - mix of romantic pop, new age electronic music with the touch of light classical sound.
CD by Nadia was released by label Neuronium.

Received it promptly and delivered as stated in add.By the way, Emma Shapplin's voice is divine. Strongly recommend.

This is probably the best classical music you'll ever hear.

I refer to this sound as Classical Pop.
Emma Shappin sang this in her early twenties.
Her vocal range is outstanding.

Even if you don't like opera or classical music ~ you'll love this CD.
The remixed single of this CD (which is not available anymore) is also a must have.

Prerequisite: if you like modern-euro-Catholic rock.

This album is sung in Italian. Modern catholic hymns are beautifully presented by Emma Shapplin. Her voice is clean, open, and strong in high pitch, and it remains clear in low.
The 2nd piece is maybe the most well-known and also the most powerful.

Cons: some pieces are not high-vocal required to show off her talented voice.

I purchased this album on the best day of my life, while in Paris! Emma is an increadable talent and this album showcases her to the best of her vocal abalities. Opera not really your thing? Try the Opera Trance version! Great to work out to!

Ordinarily I never comment, however, I realy got upset at certain negative reviews here. I had to comment.
Its amazing to me that kids from the mid west would even consider commenting on modern European Music.
Its not about genre, its about culture.
Its not about notes, its about composition.
Its not about technicality, its about passion.

Children its beyond your comprehension. Fugetaboutit!

I might also add that lots of folks are praising this babe Sarah Brightman. So I listened to a couple of clips here on Amazon, not having heard her before.
WHAT A JOKE. I goes back to what I was saying above when the main concern of the artist is hitting high notes, especialy her version of the classic "Whiter Shade of Pale". What was the point of the exercise? To me, Sarah is a very talented parot that can hit high notes. Period.

Now getting back to Emma (who happens to have the same name as my daughter). This is a hot chic who sings with PASSION, and has the capacity to make you melt as you listen to her angelic, erotic, sensual, voice.
She makes my back crack
My knees freeze
And my liver quiver.

If you're an adult BUY IT. You won't regret it.

If you thought Opera was or could be boring, you need to listen to this album! Truly Opera as it should be! The vocals are outstanding! The background music is very upbeat! This will get you out of your rocking chair. The overall blend is astounding; the whole album is an operatic rush. If you need to hear Opera expressed another way, get this album! Now! You too can love Opera!

I ordered this CD because I had heard the song a few times on a local dance music radio station in Northern CA. I love the songs. Great dance music.

HOOOORRIBLE! I'M A FAN OF EMMA SHAPPLIN, BUT WHAT WAS SHE THINKING WHEN SHE CONVINED HER BEAUTIFUL VOICE WITH LOUDER THAN HER TECHNO-GO-GO SOUND!

I got this Cd as a present, too bad! It is so horrible that I couldn't stand listening to it anymore and I just took it off the player!

Horrible!

the opera trance was a nice piece of music, but i do not think it qualifies as a great piece. suffice to say, i write this review with a heavy heart. mrs. trance bears her soul, and i appreciate that. the listener must ask 'is this all'? is there not more we can expect from a major recording artist? is there not more i deserve for a $2.95 used recording? i'm sorry mrs. trance but this disappoints, i'm very sorry to admit that your expectations and mine have been tremendously compromised. i do not advice buying this record. best of luck next time. i hope your future is more promising than history suggests.

Having tried to track down this recording for a long while, personally think good value for money and satisfied with product.

Received it promptly and delivered as stated in add.By the way, Emma Shapplin's voice is divine. Strongly recommend.

This is probably the best classical music you'll ever hear.

I refer to this sound as Classical Pop.
Emma Shappin sang this in her early twenties.
Her vocal range is outstanding.

Even if you don't like opera or classical music ~ you'll love this CD.
The remixed single of this CD (which is not available anymore) is also a must have.

Prerequisite: if you like modern-euro-Catholic rock.

This album is sung in Italian. Modern catholic hymns are beautifully presented by Emma Shapplin. Her voice is clean, open, and strong in high pitch, and it remains clear in low.
The 2nd piece is maybe the most well-known and also the most powerful.

Cons: some pieces are not high-vocal required to show off her talented voice.

I purchased this album on the best day of my life, while in Paris! Emma is an increadable talent and this album showcases her to the best of her vocal abalities. Opera not really your thing? Try the Opera Trance version! Great to work out to!

Ordinarily I never comment, however, I realy got upset at certain negative reviews here. I had to comment.
Its amazing to me that kids from the mid west would even consider commenting on modern European Music.
Its not about genre, its about culture.
Its not about notes, its about composition.
Its not about technicality, its about passion.

Children its beyond your comprehension. Fugetaboutit!

I might also add that lots of folks are praising this babe Sarah Brightman. So I listened to a couple of clips here on Amazon, not having heard her before.
WHAT A JOKE. I goes back to what I was saying above when the main concern of the artist is hitting high notes, especialy her version of the classic "Whiter Shade of Pale". What was the point of the exercise? To me, Sarah is a very talented parot that can hit high notes. Period.

Now getting back to Emma (who happens to have the same name as my daughter). This is a hot chic who sings with PASSION, and has the capacity to make you melt as you listen to her angelic, erotic, sensual, voice.
She makes my back crack
My knees freeze
And my liver quiver.

If you're an adult BUY IT. You won't regret it.

Very bad DVD-A, drums sound like a drum machine, she has a great voice but the composition is weak.

I purchased this CD on the reccomendation of a coworker who also enjoys Sarah Brightman as much as I do. I have only had it for a week, and have listened to it from beginning to end at lesat twice a day. If you check out her website, she explains exactly what she wanted to accomplish, to take you away. Even though the words are in 14th century Italian, the melodies and singing take you to another time and place. It is operatic singing with pop beats and mezmerizing orchestration. Any fan of Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and similar should definitely buy this CD. I already have Carmine Meo on order, as well as the techno remix. Can't wait for her next recording!

After winning me over with her 1st CD "Carmine Meo" of Italian standards with a rock beat, this lastest CD enters into the dark with demonic songs about losing ones will. Gone is the beauty of romance from "Carmine Meo" to become its complete antithesis of the dangers of romance. Gone is the uniqueness of her singing voice & style to become another gothic pop star. Don't buy this CD because you like "Carmine Meo", unless your into antitheses.

I brought this album in hopes in finding another Sarah Brightman, a cross-over opera singer with a strong and beautiful voice. There is no doubt that Emma Shapplin can't sing, it is just that the music is blan and uncaptivating. Every song sounds like the other, and all of the songs are dull, no gems on this one. Her voice sometimes seems not to be flowing with the music, and it seems as if she is being held back from really displaying her talent. The music also doesn't flow, and it seems as if the musicians can't decide what tune to play next. The whole album is substanceless and the songs aimless. Still, I have just purchased her other ablum, because believe she has the talent to create an album as good as Sarah Brightman's, so I've given her a second chance. However, I certainly wouldn't buy this one again, even if I do like the other.

I loved the first CD carmine meo and thought it was hard to follow and on first listening the Etterna I was very dissapointed. I left it alone for a while and then listened to it again and again and now I like this CD so much more. It is breathtaking and all the sound effects are excellent and only add to each track. Best listened to on a personal player or in a quiet room. Also recommend the Red Planet soundtrack which has some excellent tracks featuring Emma Shaplin.

This is simply one of the most awesome albums I have ever heard!
I am not normally an Opera fan, but the stirring voice of Emma Shapplin mixed with a contemporary pop beat and a beautiful chorus in the background has enlightened me to a new art form.

This album also seems to have been cut live and the applauase is clearly warm and spontaneous, not artificial as the last reviewer surmises. Buy this alum and you will fall in love..with Emma...with opera..with life.

Ok, this is a difficult one to review.
The original album, 'Carmine Meo' is a stunning, beautiful, and atmospheric album. Emmas voice is beautiful, and the music is stunning!
Which brings me on to this cd...

Emma's voice is amazing! But I am NOT convinced she is singing live? Her vocals are identical to the album version!
The music is live though, and adds perhaps at most brings the orginal album back to life, as it is slightly re-arranged.
The tracks are interspersed with applause, ust about creating some additonal atmosphere - but it all feels a bit 'fake'.
The albums best track, 'Spente le Stelle' is repeated twice within 8 songs? The latter version has the sounds of firewrks over it, which I am sure was exciting to see.

The final 3 songs - again, an oddity. I am SURE they are not live! They are simply 3 additional tracks that Emma recorded for the 'Atylantos' album which she was due to record before she fell out with Jean-Patrick Capdevielle, so I think they have simply added them to the end.
There is also a DVD version of this cd, which doesnt include the final 3 songs, backing up my theory.

So... a difficult album to rate.
If you LOVE 'Carmine Meo', and are desperate for new Emma material, then by all means get this, but dont expect too much. There is 1 new track, 'Alleluia', but you can'tr really hear Emmas voice, and its not an Emma 'sounding' track - I think its Handel, so the style is very different.

If you havent got Carmine Meo, then get that.

I feel this is an attempt by Jean-Patrick Capdevielle to make extra cash out of Emma Shapplin as she is no longer with the record company.

Very bad DVD-A, drums sound like a drum machine, she has a great voice but the composition is weak.

I purchased this CD on the reccomendation of a coworker who also enjoys Sarah Brightman as much as I do. I have only had it for a week, and have listened to it from beginning to end at lesat twice a day. If you check out her website, she explains exactly what she wanted to accomplish, to take you away. Even though the words are in 14th century Italian, the melodies and singing take you to another time and place. It is operatic singing with pop beats and mezmerizing orchestration. Any fan of Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and similar should definitely buy this CD. I already have Carmine Meo on order, as well as the techno remix. Can't wait for her next recording!

After winning me over with her 1st CD "Carmine Meo" of Italian standards with a rock beat, this lastest CD enters into the dark with demonic songs about losing ones will. Gone is the beauty of romance from "Carmine Meo" to become its complete antithesis of the dangers of romance. Gone is the uniqueness of her singing voice & style to become another gothic pop star. Don't buy this CD because you like "Carmine Meo", unless your into antitheses.

I brought this album in hopes in finding another Sarah Brightman, a cross-over opera singer with a strong and beautiful voice. There is no doubt that Emma Shapplin can't sing, it is just that the music is blan and uncaptivating. Every song sounds like the other, and all of the songs are dull, no gems on this one. Her voice sometimes seems not to be flowing with the music, and it seems as if she is being held back from really displaying her talent. The music also doesn't flow, and it seems as if the musicians can't decide what tune to play next. The whole album is substanceless and the songs aimless. Still, I have just purchased her other ablum, because believe she has the talent to create an album as good as Sarah Brightman's, so I've given her a second chance. However, I certainly wouldn't buy this one again, even if I do like the other.

I loved the first CD carmine meo and thought it was hard to follow and on first listening the Etterna I was very dissapointed. I left it alone for a while and then listened to it again and again and now I like this CD so much more. It is breathtaking and all the sound effects are excellent and only add to each track. Best listened to on a personal player or in a quiet room. Also recommend the Red Planet soundtrack which has some excellent tracks featuring Emma Shaplin.