Northern Ireland v Italy (15/11/2021)

WORDS : NIGEL T ILSON

CARLY’S SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE British-Italian soprano Carly Paoli will be singing the national anthems of both Northern Ireland and Italy at tonight’s match at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. Whether it be a live or recorded performance, a classical, contemporary, musical theatre or spiritual song, Carly certainly knows how to deliver. Her recent release, Carly Paoli & Friends, an album of duets, shot straight into the charts, and she has also been given a special guest slot on Aled Jones’ Cathedral Tour 2022. The Mansfield-born singer-songwriter will first team up with Jones on his tour of the UK on 23 February in Carly’s home county at St Mary’s Church in Nottingham, with a further 23 dates to follow. Carly Paoli & Friends, the soprano’s fourth album, features a mix of collaborations with some of the biggest names from across the music world. A Classical Brit Nominee and BBC Music Ambassador, the singer did her utmost during lockdown to keep the music flowing with live and filmed performances, both solo and with other artists. She created several new musical alliances which has led to a wonderful mix of musical styles on Carly Paoli & Friends. Among the songs is Barry Manilow’s One Voice, which was recorded with choral backing from students at the Brit School, while Pray sees her duet with legendary vocalist Paul Carrack (Ace, Mike & The Mechanics, Squeeze, Roxy Music) . Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet fame collaborates on Kiss The Stars, French pop opera star Vincent Niclo and Carly team up on Amigos Para Siempre, and she joins Canadian trio The Tenors for the classical pop song Love Will Never End.

Musical Theatre legend Elaine Paige sings alongside her on Rainbow Medley and A Million Dreams sees Carly and Ramin Karimloo perform their exclusive interpretation of the song from The Greatest Showman. For This Is My Lovely Day, from the 1947 British show Bless the Bride, the soprano reunites with world renowned tenor Joseph Calleja. And from the classical arena there’s a duet with American international operatic tenor Noah Stewart on In Pursuit Of Love. On Mi Mancherai, a haunting melody with words that ache with longing and memories of a lost love, Carly is accompanied by young classical violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, while for Un Amore Cosi Grande, a celebrated Italian song, she reunites with Italian Bandoneon player Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi. Two of the duets evoke the singer’s spiritual side. She joins American Christian tenor David Phelps on I Believe, originally composed as a song of hope for soldiers in the Korean War, and with Aled Jones for Be Thou My Vision, a beautiful old Irish hymn. Recorded during lockdown, observing strict Covid-19 guidelines, orchestral accompaniment is provided in the main by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra with renowned American conductor and composer Steven Mercurio. Another track features The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by award-winning composer William Ross. Musical arrangements are managed across the album by composers, conductors and arrangers Paul Herbert and Dom Haslam. Carly Paoli & Friends is available to order on Amazon.

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NIR V ITA