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May 30 - June 6, 2004 |
GioAria's musical mosaic
Italian songstress reinterprets the popular music of Vangelis
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2004-05-23
Now here is a cross-cultural situation: an Italian singer based in Montreal visits Toronto to launch an album comprising songs by a Greek composer. Adding to the mix, she chooses a sushi joint for her lunchtime interview with Tandem, and reveals that she leaves the following day for India!
We're talking about GioAria, a new artist making a real international impact, and her story is a fascinating one. Born in the medieval Tuscany village of Fivizzano, she grew up in Aulla, and now divides her time between Montreal and Monterossa al Mare, in Cinque Terre.
She studied voice and classical piano at the Conservatory in Parma and was in the award-winning choir Il Convitto Armonico, but music then took a back seat. "I studied law [her degree is nearly complete] because my parents wanted me to have a more sure job than as a singer. I tried to have music as a hobby only, but it was not easy. Music was my first love and I want to do this!"
Fate intervened in the form of Montreal artist manager, Maurice Velenosi. "In 1999, he heard my voice, and we met two years later. He said 'I'd like to work with you, but I live in Montreal.'"
After some deliberation, GioAria agreed to move. "I love Montreal, it is very beautiful. The only thing is the weather!" The city suits her creative and cultural sensibilities. "I like the mixture you can find here. In Europe that may be possible in 20 years but not now. Here, ethnic, language and populations are all together, and my music is like this. My desire with my music is to put together different things from different cultures."
That ambition is reflected in GioAria's first album, Like A Dream. Her soaring soprano voice tackles 13 Vangelis compositions. "I met the music of Vangelis when I was a teacher of yoga. I used his music to relax myself and the people. It is a music that can give the possibility to match your inside world. When I arrived in Canada, I decided to think about this kind of music. I don't have enough material to do an album of all my compositions."
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