Classic Brit Awards 2011

Saya rasa beberapa diantara kalian masih merasa asing dengan penghargaan yang satu ini: CLASSIC BRIT AWARDS

Berlangsung untuk kedua belas kalinya tahun ini pada tanggal 12 Mei mendatang, Classic Brit Awards (CBA) merupakan acara penghargaan tahunan khusus didedikasikan bagi para insan musik klasik dunia yang digelar di London. Bisa dibilang Grammy-nya musik klasik lah. Beberapa kategori penghargaan dikompetisikan dalam acara ini seperti composer of the year, young British classical perfomer, lifetime achievement in music. Para pemenang diseleksi secara khusus oleh para kritikus musik klasik. Khusus untuk kategori Album of the year, pemenangnya dipilih langsung oleh publik via website. Sebut saja nama seperti soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, Renee Fleming, Jose Careras, Cecilia Bartoli, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bryn Terfel, Charlotte Church adalah sebagian dari mereka musisi klasik yang sudah pernah menerima penghargaan ini.

Terlepas dari main-stream musik klasik, jenis musik cross-over masih mendapatkan tempat dalam nominasi penghargaan ini. Sebut saja musisi muda seperti Russell Watson, Isabel Suckling, Eric Whitacre masuk dalam nominasi album of the year. Yang mengejutkan adalah, penobatan artist of the decade kepada grup Il-Divo. Mereka dianggap memberikan dampak besar bagi pencitraan musik klasik, yaitu mengubah cara pandang publik terhadap musik klasik yang cenderung terdengar menakutkan dan membosankan (Memang betul sih, semenjak adanya Il Divo, teman-teman saya pecinta Nsync atau Destiny's Child juga memiliki beberapa lagu Il Divo di playlist mereka) Apanya yang membuat terkejut? batu loncatan besar bagi Il Divo untuk mendapatkan penghargaan setinggi itu mengingat Il Divo belum pernah mendapatkan satupun nominasi di ajang ini selama enam tahun lebih mereka berkarir.

Nggak ada salahnya untuk memilih pemenang album of the year. Yah, iseng-iseng berhadiah.

Il Divo

Russell Watson

Katherine Jenkins

Eric Whitacre

Isabel Suckling

Nggak berbeda jauh dengan acara malam penghargaan lainnya, CBA juga menghadirkan penampilan dari sederetan musisi klasik kelas dunia, baik vokal maupun instrumental. Tahun ini mezzo-soprano muda, Katherine Jenkins dan tenor Russel Watson dijadwalkan akan manggung di CBA. Eric Whitacre yang terkenal dengan proyek virtual choir dan para pemain Les Miserables juga siap menggemparkan panggung Albert Hall. Tak lupa juga Il Divo yang bakal membuat debut mereka di panggung CBA, membawakan materi baru mereka.

Classical Brit Awards 2011 akan ditayangkan di saluran TV Inggris ITV secara relay di bulan Mei nanti. Well, di Indonesia sendiri sih belum ada saluran TV lokal yang menayangkannya (bahkan TV berlangganan di Asia pun juga belum pernah ada yang menayangkannya secara exclusive). Tapi bagi kamu yang ingin menontonnya, masih ada YouTube kok :) Berharap sih suata saat nanti, acara ini bisa ditayangkan di TV lokal, supaya orang Indonesia juga bisa tahu dan menikmati musik yang indah itu seperti apa... 

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Il Divo & Russell Watson courtesy of Sony Music

Eric Whitacre courtesy of Decca (Universal Music)

Katherine Jenkins courtesy of Warner Music

Virtual Choir 2.0 launched!!

Virtual choir is back!!


World's largest online choir finally launched. This is the second time (see the first Virtual Choir here)  that Eric Whitacre, conductor and composer, throw a project that involves both classical music and technology to mix in one. 'Virtual Choir 2.0' premiered last Thursday April 7 on TED Conference in New York City. In this project, Eric made 2051 people from 58 countries to submit their video, singing his famous composing of 'Sleep', in YouTube.

Eric told CNN about this fun yet emerging project "It's real voices and it's quite beautiful and genuine. It's just fun to do. Millions and millions of people all over the world sing together in choirs and I guess now their voices are finally being heard." 


Eric has signed a record deal with Decca with his album 'Light & Gold' success in the market. Since its releasing, 'Light & Gold' topped many expert music charts in US & UK, including Billboard top classical album.


As I mentioned above, there are more than 2000 voices from 58 countries participating in this project, including Indonesia. See what our Indonesian fellows have got:

Eric Whitacre's "Light & Gold" courtesy of DECCA / UNIVERSAL MUSIC

Royal Couple is a Choir Lover

No glam singer. No famous rock band too. Only choir singing for the most anticipated royal wedding.


I am officially William-Kate fans now. Not only the excitement they brought to the world, but also their simplicity for so-called wedding of the year that impress me. When some people expect that the young couple might throw some fancy glam-singer studded wedding, they want some conservative stuff going on. For the ceremony itself, held April 29 in the Abbey, they choose boys choir to sing the hymns.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey will accompany the royal wedding service.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey and The Chapel Royal Choir, along with London Chamber Orchestra and a fanfare team from the Royal Air Force Band, will be featured in the ceremony in the Abbey. The palace said that William and his fiancee "have taken a great deal of interest and care in choosing the music for their service," which will include well-known hymns and choral works as well as pieces commissioned especially for the occasion. 


Surprisingly, the hymns sung by the The Choir of Westminster Abbey will be live recorded into an album. "The Royal Wedding - The Official Wedding" will be expected to release in May 3rd, just four days after the wedding. Pre-order here in iTunes

Prince William and his soon-to-be wife Kate Middleton are taking a great deal in choosing music for their upcoming wedding service in April 29. 

So, now we know that the couple really want to make it in low-key. But who knows. They are now-generation. Lady Gaga or Elton John still have a chance to rock the after party.

On Choir: "Song For Athene" - A song for Princess Diana

I just got ghostbumps when I heard this peace :

"Song for Athene" performed by Westminster Abbey Choir

"Song For Athene". Composed by John Tavener. A best work by this British composer. Originally this piece was made in 1993 dedicated to his friend, Athene Hariades, who was killed in an accident. And dramatically this song was also performed in the late Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.


Take a look at its lyrics :


Alleluia. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Alleluia. Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your kingdom.
Alleluia. Give rest, O Lord, to your handmaid, who has fallen asleep.
Alleluia. The Choir of Saints have found the well-spring of life and door of Paradise
Alleluia. Life: a shadow and a dream.
Alleluia. Weeping at the grave creates the song: Alleluia. Come, enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you.


I could have tears on my ears when it reches at the final line, the climax, "Come, enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you"..


What's on my head when hear this piece is I imagine Princess Diana's soul enter the gate of heaven, accompanying by the angels' singing this song. And when it comes: "Come, enjoy rewards" and so on, is that Diana is really deserved the rewards that God's prepared after everything she has done for humanity. Giving her life a 100% for charity. 


It's like a sudden sob wants to coke me as how I'm very amazed how the light of God welcoming the Princess..


Hoping that God holds the Princess now, as always...




related videos :

The Sixteen choir sang "Song for Athene" (with partitura)

Live coverage by CNN on Diana's Funeral while the choir singing "Song for Athene"

Performed in a cappella for Sopran Alto Tenor Bass 

Fashion Designers: Asian Rocks!!

Famous Fashion Designers origin: French (checked), Italian (checked), American (checked), British (checked), Asian? (CHECKED)!!

Sudah tidak asing lagi kalau runaway di seantero fashion week (pekan mode) mulai diinvasi oleh koleksi-koleksi rancangan para designer terkenal berdarah Asia. Sebut saja Vera Wang, Prabal Gurung, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu yang sudah menjadi sebuah brand kelas atas. Pelanggan mereka pun tersebar dari banyak kalangan, dari kaum selebritas hingga tokoh kenegaraan, contohnya Michelle yang berdansa dengan suaminya Barrack Obama di malam inagurasi? Ibu negara menggunakan gaun putih rancangan Jason Wu.

Vera Wang

Alexander Wang

Prabal Gurung

Jason Wu

Para designer tersebut kebanyakan berdarah Cina dan Nepal. Apakah ada designer berdarah Indonesia yang mampu menembus dunia fashion internasional? Yes. Dia adalah Farah Angsana. Rancangannya sempat diperagakan di Pekan Mode New York Musim Semi/Panas 2011.

so who's proud to be Asian now? :)

Virtual Choir : Paduan Suara YouTube

Selain Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, Greyson Chance sensasi apa lagi yang bakal dilahirkan oleh web yang bernama "YouTube" ini?

.

Musik Pop tidak asing lagi dalam dunia YouTube. Sudah banyak musisi popular menghiasi dan melanglang buana di web sosial media ini. Namun bakal lain cerita kalau musik klasik turut memanfaatkan kecanggihan YouTube dalam membuat terobosan baru. 

Yes, perkenalkan Virtual Choir!

Satu kata "Takjub".

Virtual Choir adalah paduan suara yang para anggotanya ditemukan di dalam dunia maya. Mereka menyanyikan sebuah lagu yang sudah ditentukan sesuai dengan jenis suara, merekamnya, lalu meng-upload-nya di YouTube. Sang konduktor sendiri memberikan arahan dan memimpin paduan suara tersebut via YouTube. Setelah itu dikombinasikan menjadi satu kesatuan.

Perkenalkan pioner proyek ini: Eric Whitacre. Eric adalah seorang komposer dan dirigen muda yang berada di belakang proyek ini. Terinspirasi oleh acara "Lollipop" di MTV, Eric ingin membuat suatu terobosan baru dalam berpaduan suara. Munculah ide "Virtual Choir".

Virtual Choir yang pertama menampilkan 158 "anggota paduan suara" terbagi atas 8 jenis suara dari 12 negara menyanyikan lagu 'Lux Aurumque' (Light & Gold) gubahan Eric Whitacre sendiri. Tak disangka, video ini sudah memiliki 1,9 juta hit (view) di YouTube.

Mengingat besarnya antusiasme di Virtual Choir pertama, Eric pun ingin melanjutkan kesuksesan terobosan baru ini, dengan membuat Virtual Choir 2.0. Ingin berpartisipasi? sayang sekali karena batas pengumpulan videonya sudah ditutup beberapa bulan lalu. Di Virtual Choir 2.0 ini, para "anggota paduan suara" membawakan lagu 'Sleep', masih hasil karya Eric sendiri. Virtual Choir 2.0 sendiri akan ditayangkan perdana di New York tanggal 7 April mendatang dan dapat disaksikan juga via live stream. So, mark your calender please! :)


related videos:

Eric Whitacre bicara tentang Virtual Choir

Eric pada saat memimpin "Virtual Choir" via YouTube

Cuplikan lagu 'Sleep' yang akan dinyanyikan di Virtual Choir 2.0 Dalam video ini, dibawakan oleh paduan suara Polyphony.

*Sekarang Eric sedang merampungkan karyanya untuk latar belakang musik di film "Pirates of the Caribbien : On Stranger Tide" Hasil kolaborasinya bersama Hans Zimmer.

connect with Eric Whitacre
via twitter
via Facebook
www.ericwhitacre.com

New Crush : Janelle Monae

Another my new crush..

meet Janelle Monae..

First met: Watching her on Grammy Awards 2011 ceremony. Performing with his friend, Bruno Mars.
With a music influence from James Brown, Out Kast, Motown, her music is so fresh. Sophisticated yet clever in writing the music. Now, Janelle is signed  a record deal under Sean Combs' record label. Her second studio album "Archandroid" was released in May 2010. Worth to Listen : "Tightrope" & "Cold War"