Amici Forever is a band of five classically trained singers who mix opera with pop music. The bands first album The Opera Band released in 2004 has reached number one on the Australian classical charts, number 2 on the US classical charts and top 5 in the UK classical charts.

History

The members of Amici Forever met when rehearsing and performing at opera venues around the world. Tenor Geoff Sewell, originally from New Zealand, came up with the idea of an "opera band" mixing traditional opera with contemporary pop. The band features two tenors, two soprano singers and a bass-baritone singer.

Amici Forever signed with Arista and started playing high profile gigs such as the FA Cup final and the English rugby union final. Nick Patrick , who had produced albums by the Gipsy Kings, Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye produced the bands first album The Opera Band.

It was released on January 13, 2004 and has reached number 74 in the Billboard 200 album charts in 2004 and reached the top 50 of the ARIA Australian album charts. The album has also reached number 2 on the Billboard Classical Crossover and Heatseeker charts and number one on the ARIA Australian classical album chart as well as top 5 in the . The album was nominated for "Album of the Year" at the Classical Brits to held at the Royal Albert Hall on May 26, 2004 and will be performing at the Awards.

The band have agreed to perform at the Classic response Tsunami Aid concert in the Royal Albert Hall on 31 March 2005 in aid of victims of the tsunami disaster.

With their debut album having sold 1 million copies worldwide their follow up album entitled DEFINED is set to release in June 2005. Manager Nadia Raibin says "We are delighted to be able to be performing for this special evening at the Royal Albert Hall and to be able to showcase a couple of our new album pieces at the same time. We wish Classic Response every success and are so glad to be a part of it".

Band members

As of 2004, the band consists of:

• Jo Appleby (England) (soprano)
• Tsakane Valentine (South Africa) (soprano)
• Geoff Sewell (New Zealand) (tenor)
• David Habbin (England) (tenor)
• Nick Garrett (England (bass baritone)

Discography

• The Opera Band (2004)

Links

• Amici Forever web page
• All Music Guide Amici Forever article