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January 8, 2015
MUSIC | Baritone Masamitsu Miyamoto's New Album 'Italian Songs of Azure' - A Special Message
Baritone Masumitsu Miyamoto Releases Highly Anticipated New Album
A Special Message on 'Azzurro: Italian Songs'
Masumitsu Miyamoto, the new era's baritone star, showcasing his multifaceted talents in performance, lyric writing, translation, and writing, makes his debut on Octavia Records' label "EXTON." His deeply personal live CD, 'Azzurro: Italian Songs / Masumitsu Miyamoto, Ensemble Classica,' featuring performances with the chamber ensemble "Ensemble Classica" and renditions of beloved Italian art songs, will be released on Wednesday, February 22nd.
Text by MIYAMOTO Masumitsu
To commemorate the CD release, we received a special message from Masumitsu Miyamoto!
The cheerful gentlemen I met in Italy welcomed me warmly into their circle, a Japanese musician studying Italian music.
Ensemble Classica, formed around Romano Pucci, who served for many years as principal flutist in the orchestra of the Milan Scala, one of the world's three great opera houses, is an ensemble composed of Fabio Spruzzola on guitar, and Ivano Brambilla on mandolin and clarinet.
I had performed with them in various parts of Italy before, and wanting to introduce these cheerful gentlemen to everyone in Japan, I invited them in 2011. This CD is a live recording from that time.
I conceived both the title 'Azzurro: Italian Songs' and the program itself, and they were very pleased with it.
They call me 'Mas'.
'Mas, this program of 'Azzurro: Italian Songs' is truly beautiful. Let's introduce it to the world!'
After every rehearsal, after every performance, they would say this.
'It's wonderful. But is my singing of Italian songs alright?'
I asked this, concerned about their reaction.
'What are you talking about? Just sing as you want to sing. That's our happiness, and besides, you understand these songs better than anyone, don't you?'
Saying this, the gentlemen would wink.
The Italian songs on this CD are called 'art songs,' but with their touch, it feels as if you're enjoying a coffee on a cheerful Italian street corner. Their music is so free of pretense, it imbues the air with a joyful hue.
'Mas, this program of 'Azzurro: Italian Songs' is truly beautiful. Let's introduce it to the world!'
After every rehearsal, after every performance, they would say this.
'It's wonderful. But is my singing of Italian songs alright?'
I asked this, concerned about their reaction.
'What are you talking about? Just sing as you want to sing. That's our happiness, and besides, you understand these songs better than anyone, don't you?'
Saying this, the gentlemen would wink.
The Italian songs on this CD are called 'art songs,' but with their touch, it feels as if you're enjoying a coffee on a cheerful Italian street corner. Their music is so free of pretense, it imbues the air with a joyful hue.
One is Toru Takemitsu's 'Little Tree.' They love this piece too, and wherever we go, they always say, 'We absolutely must do this one.'
The other is 'If There Were No Songs' by Masanori Kato. I wrote the lyrics for this, and it's currently being performed by various groups as a choral piece.
To think that I, who came from the countryside of Ehime, could perform with authentic Italian musicians, sharing laughter... Just as the lyrics say, 'If there were no songs, I would never have met you,' I sang this piece with the greatest happiness, filled with gratitude for them and for all the encounters I've had up to this point.
This is an album we hope you will have in your collection.
Masumitsu Miyamoto
'Azzurro: Italian Songs / Masumitsu Miyamoto, Ensemble Classica'
Price | ¥3,000
Octavia Records
4112010250(OVCL-00458)
Tracklist | Gluck: "Oh, gentle passion" / Bellini: "Intensa piú" (from 'Norma'), "Ah, non credea mirarti" (from 'La Sonnambula'), "Mira, o Norma" (from 'Norma') / Donizetti: "Una lacrima" (from 'L'elisir d'amore'), "Io l'infelice" (from 'L'elisir d'amore') / Verdi: "Perduta ho la pace" (from 'Don Carlo'), "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" (from 'La Traviata') / Puccini: "Ave Maria" / Tosti: "L'ultima canzone", "Sogno" / Gastaldon: "Musica proibita" / Denza: "Funiculì, Funiculà" / Leoncavallo: "Mattinata" / Takemitsu: "Little Tree" / Mozart: "Batti, batti, o bel Masetto" (from 'Don Giovanni') / Kato: "If There Were No Songs" (Lyrics by Masumitsu Miyamoto)
Product Code | 4112010250
JAN Code | 4526977004583
'Azzurro: Italian Songs / Masumitsu Miyamoto, Ensemble Classica'
Price | ¥3,000
Octavia Records
4112010250(OVCL-00458)
Tracklist | Gluck: "Oh, gentle passion" / Bellini: "Intensa piú" (from 'Norma'), "Ah, non credea mirarti" (from 'La Sonnambula'), "Mira, o Norma" (from 'Norma') / Donizetti: "Una lacrima" (from 'L'elisir d'amore'), "Io l'infelice" (from 'L'elisir d'amore') / Verdi: "Perduta ho la pace" (from 'Don Carlo'), "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" (from 'La Traviata') / Puccini: "Ave Maria" / Tosti: "L'ultima canzone", "Sogno" / Gastaldon: "Musica proibita" / Denza: "Funiculì, Funiculà" / Leoncavallo: "Mattinata" / Takemitsu: "Little Tree" / Mozart: "Batti, batti, o bel Masetto" (from 'Don Giovanni') / Kato: "If There Were No Songs" (Lyrics by Masumitsu Miyamoto)
Product Code | 4112010250
JAN Code | 4526977004583
http://www.octavia.co.jp/news/2012/02/post-68.html
Masumitsu Miyamoto Official Website
http://www.mas-mits.com/