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Alexander Kariotis is 'Breathing New Life into the Rock Opera Genre'
By: Courtnie Mele Jun. 20, 2014
When people think of great rock voices, Steve Perry (Journey) and Freddie Mercury (Queen) are some of the names that come to mind. Take their vocal styles; add to them the sublime sounds of great operatic composers such as Puccini and Verdi, and "Voilà" you have Alexander Kariotis, breathing new life into the rock opera-genre.
"There's room for both rock and opera, even in the same song." Kariotis explains. And this phenomenal singer does just that throughout his debut album, Alexander Kariotis and the Rock Opera Orchestra (VMG - SONY/Red), released in June 2014, exclusively on Amazon.com
The iconic jazz saxophonist David Sanborn joins Alexander in a beautiful jazz/opera fusion song Ho Bisogno Di Te. Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of RUN DMC joins Kariotis in a hip hop/opera collaboration of a remix of Alexander's original composition called Vesti la Giubba - Hide the tears.
Growing up in Chicago, he quickly found his escape through music and was inspired by his older brother, Tony, the front man of Gambler (EMI Records). Only 13 years old at the time, Kariotis thought he was meant to be a rocker, but his brother had another path in mind for him. Tony's instincts were proven correct when he took Alexander to see opera star Luciano Pavarotti in concert, and saw how fascinated he became with Pavarotti's voice.
Determined to excel in classical music, he began studying at the prestigious Mannes Conservatory of Music in New York with Metropolitan Opera tenor Dan Marek and also Pavarotti's teacher Arrigo Pola in Italy.
He performed alongside Tony Award winning actress Elizabeth Ashley in the Broadway tour of Terrence McNally's Master Class; had a starring role in the one?man Off?Broadway show, Holdin' On, sang at New York's Avery Fischer Hall, and at the Berlin Philharmonic.
Kariotis' success was shattered when his brother Tony, the person who had brought music into his life, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). After his brother's death, Alexander realized he needed to achieve both of their dreams by combining their passions and becoming a rock?opera artist.
"When I am singing in both genres, I feel my brother Tony there with me."
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Photo Credit: Tycheephotography.com ©2014
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