VIENNA - 
(NewMediaWire) - November 27, 2024 - Living Opera is thrilled to announce the release of All Is Bright, a captivating new Christmas album featuring internationally acclaimed soprano Soula Parassidis and tenor Norman Reinhardt. Accompanied by the Benevento Orchestra under the baton of conductor Davide Levi and executive producer Dr. Christos A. Makridis, the album brings together timeless holiday favorites with the elegance and emotional depth of classical singing. Let this album be the soundtrack of your holiday season!
Recorded in Benevento, Italy, All Is Bright is a celebration of the operatic voice’s ability to convey profound emotion and uplift the human spirit. The album includes cherished classics such as O Holy Night, Silent Night, Ave Maria (Schubert), and Adeste Fideles. Designed to provide solace and inspiration, the collection offers a musical sanctuary for listeners, echoing themes of hope, peace, and renewal not just during the holiday season but throughout the year.
The album was born out of a collective desire to bring comfort and joy after the global challenges of recent years. “The operatic voice has a unique ability to express deep emotions and serves as a beacon of hope following a period of intense hardship… we invite listeners to reflect, rejoice, and find solace in these timeless melodies of hope, joy, and peace,” said Soula Parassidis. All Is Bright is part of Living Opera's mission to make classical music accessible and relevant to modern audiences. By pairing the timeless beauty of the operatic voice with universally beloved holiday songs, the album creates a bridge between the classical tradition and contemporary musical tastes. With its richly emotive performances and familiar melodies, All Is Bright invites listeners from all backgrounds to experience the transformative power of classical music in a fresh and welcoming way.
A key aspect of the production was Living Opera’s commitment to providing opportunities to emerging talent. “It doesn’t take an economist to see that artists were heavily affected during the pandemic, a fact affirmed by our research in the Journal of Cultural Economics. This project was about more than music; it was about creating work for a young and dynamic orchestra as they continue to navigate a post-pandemic world,” said Dr. Christos Makrids.
To mark the album's launch, Living Opera will host a special Christmas concert at the Hotel Bristol in Vienna on Saturday, November 30th, at 4:00 PM CET. Soula Parassidis and Norman Reinhardt will perform selections from the album, accompanied by pianist Kristin Okerlund, in the elegant setting of one of Vienna’s most iconic hotels. Join us in celebrating this new chapter in Living Opera's journey and cross-genre musical production!
While classical music has been growing in popularity, according to Statista, revenues have been stagnating and new research by Living Opera shows that performing arts institutions across the United States have been struggling financially more than ever. “I see such excitement about the music among students, but also significant myopia about the future and whether there will still be a career for them by the time they graduate… our cross-genre work here is a step towards expanding the pie and reaching new audiences,” said Norman Reinhardt who has also been serving as an artist in residence at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music.
All Is Bright is available on all major streaming platforms starting November 27th, 2024.
For media inquiries, interview requests, or further information, please contact: Elizabeth Bowman, elizabeth@bowmanmedia.ca.
About Living Opera
Living Opera (www.livingopera.org) is a global platform and multimedia company dedicated to transforming lives through music, education, and philanthropy. By combining the beauty of classical music with innovative approaches to the arts, Living Opera fosters a vibrant community of artists and audiences who share a passion for timeless artistry.
