Search - Georges Bizet, Alfredo Catalani, Leo Delibes :: The East Village Opera Company

Talent, Integrity, Exciting

Jeremy Mossman | Lakeshore, Ontario Canada | 10/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up watching Tyley Ross onstage (in Tommy, Miss Saigon, in concert, etc) and always admired his singing and diversity, and when I got word of EVOC I was thrilled that he's ever-evolving and still singing.



I bought this CD the day it came out and I haven't stopped listening to it yet. EVOC has maintained the musical integrity of the opera it presents and has only heightened it's excitement for today's audience. I can't wait for more from them. Keep singing Tyley!"

Not at all like Trans Siberian Orchestra

Benjamin J. Neiman | Phila., Pa. United States | 02/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These guys are really great, and I would hate to see anyone scared away because a couple other reviewers compare them to the TSO. While TSO deliver leaden, workmanlike readings with average musicianship, the EVOC deliver soulful, virtuosic performances with great flair and finesse. The rock guitarist (Ben Butler) and drummer are superb in EVOC as they truly understand classic rock but have the chops to dliver the opera material accurately. I think Tyley Ross and (especially) Ann Marie Millazza are two of the finest vocalists in any genre I've heard. In addition the arrangements are genius. Well done!"

Finally `Classical Rock'

Robert Karch | Greenwich, CT USA | 11/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you who believe music is an art as well as a business, you should buy this album. `Classical Rock' is a genre where the eloquence and complexity of classical music can be heard with a modern rock sound. It has been too long in coming and `The East Village Opera Company' has provided us with a remarkable presentation of what can be done. They chose some of the most modern sounding arias and arranged them for a rock group. My preference would have been to stay closer to the original arrangement and adjust for electric guitar and drums, but all rearrangements sound good and they maintain the essence of each aria. I love that all the arias are done in their original language (with the occasional translation thrown in for effect - it works). After all lyrics and music are written as a unit and translations by their nature loose something. The only real negative is that the vocals just are not strong enough for some of the arias; particularly the Puccini arias need a bigger more classical voice. But that being said, AnnMarie Milazzo has a beautiful voice, as does Tyley Ross and the blending of their voices is incredible. I can only hope that this is just the beginning of this kind of music. I would love to hear more classics and maybe someone will try composing new music for this genre; now that could be amazing!"