The lovely Carly Paoli speaks to Music-News.com prior to the launch of her magnificent debut album 'Singing My dream'. Recorded at The Dorchester in London on 21st June 2017. See the full uncut interview above and below.
‘Singing My Dreams’ is the personal story of a little girl from Mansfield who fell in love with the MGM musicals; a teenager who sang in the piazzas of Puglia; a student who studied her craft at Tring Park and The Royal Northern College of Music; a rising star who has sung with -and is lauded by- luminaries including Andrea Bocelli, Elaine Paige, David Foster and José Carreras.
“Carly is a wonderful person to work with. I admire her voice, artistry and her charisma. It’s a pleasure for me to sing with her.’ – José Carreras
‘Singing My Dreams’, which features a rare duet with Carreras (the iconic En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor), is a delightful collection of classical and classic pieces, as well as original compositions - some featuring lyrics by Carly herself. Indeed she shares co-writing credits with Ennio & Andrea Morricone and James Horner having written English lyrics for Se Tu Fossi (Cinema Paradiso) and the theme from ‘Legends of the Fall’ which now bears the title ‘Memory of You’.
The opening song, ‘Music Of Heaven’, has drawn praise from its writer Jason Robert Brown who, on hearing Carly’s recording, wrote “congratulations on a beautiful recording. I’m deeply honored!” Meanwhile ‘The Mystery Of Your Gift’ sees Carly adding her own individual and uplifting touch to the Josh Groban classic. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, arranged and produced by Romano Musumarra (who has produced and composed for Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo & José Carreras) and featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, the song’s lyrics resonate deeply with Carly:
“It’s a song that captured me from the first time I heard it. I think many singers can relate to the idea of not knowing quite where our gift has come from, whilst knowing that it is a blessing and one that should not be taken for granted but should be shared with the world to do good wherever we can. When I sing this song on stage, the line “The echoes of your melody, will always live in these walls” is both humbling and inspiring. Similarly "before you can fly, you must fall” rings so true - the obstacles, set-backs and deflating moments that I’ve encountered along the way definitely have been character defining!”
Other original songs are written by Carly, Romano Musumarra, legendary lyricist Don Black, Grant Black, Dom Haslam and Liz Hetherington. Liz, a former professional opera singer (Glyndebourne, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Northern Ireland Opera, New Sadler’s Wells Opera), is also Carly’s singing teacher, a relationship that started when Carly was 9 years old and has continued throughout Carly’s development.
Singing My Dreams tracklisting
1. Music Of Heaven (Jason Robert Brown) arr Robert D.C. Emery 2. The Mystery Of Your Gift (Josh Groban / Brian Byrne) arr Romano Musumarra 3. Still Dream (Alexandre Desplat / David Lindsay-Abaire) arr Romano Musumarra 4. Almeno Tu Nell’Universo (Maurizio Fabrizio / Bruno Lauzi) arr Robert D.C Emery 5. Why (Romano Musumarra / Carly Paoli) arr Romano Musumarra 6. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor – duet with José Carreras (Joaquín Rodrigo / Alfredo Garcia Segura / Carly Paoli / Liz Hetherington) arr Romano Musumarra 7. Ave Maria – Romano Musumarra / Grant Black arr Romano Musumarra 8. After Loving You (Romano Musumarra / Don Black) arr Romano Musumarra 9. Il Mio Miracolo - duet with Alessandro Safina (Romano Musumarra / Giorgio Pintus / C Welsman / Carly Paoli) arr Romano Musumarra 10. Se Tu Fossi (Cinema Paradiso) (Ennio and Andrea Morricone & Carly Paoli) arr Robert D.C Emery 11. One Bright Star (Dom Haslam / Liz Hetherington) arr Romano Musumarra 12. A Time For Mercy (Romano Musumarra / Grant Black) arr Romano Musumarra 13. Where Or When (Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart) arr William Ross 14. Memory Of You (Theme From Legends Of The Fall) (James Horner / Carly Paoli) arr Romano Musumarra
Produced by Romano Musumarra. ‘Singing My Dreams’ is available to pre-order Amazon
Carly’s beautiful and impressive voice has been delighting audiences throughout the world. In between recording her album Carly has performed on international stages including Rome’s Fori Imperiali and Terme di Caracalla, as well as in Monaco, Malaysia, Florence, New York (Carnegie Hall) and London (O2 Arena), and at Windsor Castle and St James’s Palace for HRH the Prince Of Wales.
“It’s always my pleasure to share the stage with Carly Paoli” – Andrea Bocelli
Carly recently was awarded the prestigious ‘Premio Barocco’ award in Italy. Founded in 1969 by Fernando Carteni, the award recognises achievements in art and culture. Previous recipients include Sophia Loren, Franco Zeffirelli, Dame Helen Mirren, Gerard Depardieu and Luciano Pavarotti. The event, at which Carly performed, was held on May 27th 2017 in 'Castello Angioino di Gallipoli' in Puglia.
“It’s a huge honour for me to receive this prestigious award. Puglia is as much my home as the UK, my Italian family are there, it’s where I spent all my free time growing up and gained so much performance experience. It’s a lovely feeling to have been recognised there for my dedication to music and also love of the region” said Carly.
Carly has also performed at many high profile events in Italy including the Music for Mercy concert in Rome, with her song, ‘Ave Maria’ adopted by Pope Francis as the song for his ‘Jubilee Year’ celebrations. Also in May, Carly will perform in ‘La Messa Arcaica’ at the 'Teatro Massimo di Bellini' in Catania, Sicily alongside the legendary Franco Battiato.
Closer to home, Carly is patron of the children’s charity When You Wish Upon A Star. Having first supported them when she was 13 years old, Carly has since entertained the children on trips to Lapland, performed at several fundraising events and, most recently, released a festive single ‘My Christmas Dream Is You’, supported by Eddie Stobart, Chang Beer and Everton Football Club, with profits going to the charity. Speaking about the charity’s work Carly says “When You Wish Upon A Star is very hands on, and each child and their families become part of a big family, who seem to be going through the same suffering. The charity provides a chance for these children to still be children, to dream and to have an imagination, ‘be a superhero or a princess for the day.’ It takes them away from the reality of hospitals and suffering, but equally supports through those painful times too.”
Carly Paoli: an English rose with Italian roots, singing her dreams.
