Giorgia Fumanti

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Giorgia Fumanti

Fumanti in January 2008 in Vancouver, Canada.
Background information
Born (1975-02-22) February 22, 1975
Aulla, Italy
Genres Crossover, operatic pop
Occupations Soprano singer
Years active 2004–present
Labels EMI - ISBA Music / Universal
Associated acts Heavenly Voices
Website giorgiafumanti.com

Giorgia Fumanti (born February 22, 1975) is an Italian soprano (operatic pop / crossover), composer, producer and arranger now based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her music is best compared to that of Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman and Enya.[1] Her debut EMI album "From My Heart" reached the top 20 on the Billboard Crossover Chart. She has sold over 1.2 million copies of her albums so far.[2]

Career

Giorgia Fumanti was born in the Tuscan village of Fivizzano and grew up in the nearby town of Aulla, which remains her family home. As a teenager she sang in the Città di Aulla Choir. She nearly completed a law degree, but left law school two exams from finishing. She became a yoga teacher then. At the age of 23 she decided to sing professionally. Giorgia enrolled in the Conservatorio di Musica "Arrigo Boito" in Parma, where she studied for three years.[3][4]

In 2002, Fumanti relocated to Montreal, Canada to work with manager, Maurice Velenosi of MCM Entertainment Management, and in 2004, her first album, entitled Like a Dream was released on Canadian independent label Isba Music Entertainment. The album featured her take on the music of Vangelis.[4]

She was soon signed with Angel Records/EMI, and in March 2007, she released the album From My Heart worldwide. From My Heart was produced by Craig Leon, and features her musical version of Sting's 'Fields of Gold' (Campi d’Oro), and four Ennio Morricone pieces including themes from The Mission, Cinema Paradiso and Once Upon a Time in the West. It was recorded in the Abbey Road Studios in London with the English Chamber Choir, and the Netherlands Media Orchestra.[5]

The year 2008 saw Giorgia Fumanti's third studio album take form. Entitled Je Suis, the majority of the songs were in French, with a few Italian songs in between. Je Suis was also released on Isba Music Entertainment, in association with Universal Music Canada, and was initially released across Canada, and on the internet in November 2008. In addition to a credit in Artistic Direction, Giorgia also earned writing credits on four of the 14 songs on Je Suis. The duet "Le Plus Grand Amour Qui Soit" featured a nine-year old singer Jacob Guay. The album also featured versions of Sarah McLachlan's "Angel", Albinoni's "Adagio", Chopin's "Notturno", and Bach's "Ave Maria".

Then in 2009, the album Magnificat was released. A collection of mainly sacred and classical arias, Giorgia sang three versions of Ave Maria (Caccini, Schubert, and Bach/Gounod), and renditions of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World", and Billy Joel's "Goodnight My Angel".

For the 2010 Shanghai World International Expo, Giorgia Fumanti along with Chinese baryton, Liao Chang Yong, sang the theme song "Better City, Better Life" and appeared on many Chinese TV shows produced by the Shanghai Media Group, CCTV, Beijing TV and Dragon TV. A regular featured artist and special guest in China and Asia, Giorgia Fumanti sang at the 2011 Chinese New Year CCTV - Internet Spring Festival Gala, as well as at the December 31, 2010 New Year's Eve Gala TV show for CCTV in Beijing.

She has also performed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, at the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Special Olympics, sang the National Anthem at the NHL All Star Game in Dallas and has appeared on several PBS TV Specials in the USA. She has shared the stage with José Carreras, Michael Bolton, Lang Lang, Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Chinese pop icon Wei Wei and Han Hong, famous Chinese tenors, Yu Qiang Dai and Ding Yi, the 12 Girls Band from China, The Russian Red Army Choir, Italian pop stars Zucchero, Lucio Dalla and Gino Paoli, as well as famous Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis, crooner Patrizio Buanne, Irish tenor John McDermott, Benise and The Canadian Tenors.

On May 11, 2011, the album "Elysium" was released on the Universal Music label. Her 6th album Collection, released in September 2012 is a double CD with 33 songs spanning her ten-year career. In 2013 she recorded Corazon, her first Spanish language album, in Buenos Aires.

Performances

Giorgia Fumanti's illustrious career has brought her to perform in many countries around the world. With her release of her debut album Like A Dream in 2004, it kicked off her brilliant career followed by performances in Canada, Italy, China, Taiwan, Korea and India, notably at the Peace Concert with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at the magnificent Seoul Arts Center and with the MBC Pops Orchestra in Seoul for filmed for MBC TV.

In 2005, Giorgia Fumanti returned to Korea to perform at the Jeongseon World Arirang Festival in Korea and at the Jeonju Sori Festival at the Sori Center with the Iksam Philharmonic Orchestra that was aired on national South Korean TV. This tour also allowed Giorgia Fumanti to record the theme song to the very popular Korean movie My Mother Mermaid. That same year, Giorgia recorded a concert for Bravo TV in Canada which aired many times and toured Canada as guest soloist with the Russian Red Army Choir from Moscow. She also performed in Taiwan and Italy.

In 2006, the title song from her debut album Like A Dream was used in Korea in a major national TV and interned campaign for the Daesang Corp. Most of the year was spent in preparation of her EMI sophomore album From My Heart at Abbey Road Studios in London and at the Wissellord Studios in Amsterdam, Holland. The Heavenly Voices PBS TV Special was also recorded in 2006 at the Gutzman Center in Miami. The end of the year, kicked off her 2006-2007 Asian tour with the great star tenor José Carreras with performances in Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In June 2007, she performed again with José Carreras accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hampton Court Festival in London, England.

2007 was a big year for Giorgia Fumanti. In January 2007, Fumanti made her U.S. TV debut, singing the Canadian National Anthem for the NHL All-Stars Game in Dallas, Texas.[6][7]

In March 2007, she performed on the PBS Concert Special Heavenly Voices along with musical artists Ryland Angel, Sasha & Shawna, and the Tim Janis Ensemble. The concert, now available on DVD, was filmed in Miami, Florida, and featured footage of each performer's homeland.[8][9]

2007 also marked the release of the PBS TV Special Heavenly Voices in the USA and Canada, followed by the release of her EMI sophomore album From My Heart (which went top 20 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart) and the Heavenly Voices DVD on EMI. Following this release, Giorgia had numerous concerts and appearances in Canada, USA, Mexico, England, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and South Africa.

Japanese figure skating champion Yukari Nakano used Giorgia Fumanti's song Aria (from the From My Heart CD) in her various world tour exhibition programs in 2007-2008.

In June 2007, Giorgia performed with the illustrious pianist Lang Lang in Lake Las Vegas, on the floating stage. That same year, she also performed for former US Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore as well as for the US Governors of Nevada, Texas and Georgia. She also performed for New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion.

In the fall of 2007, Giorgia toured Canada with Italian superstar singer Zucchero, toured Canada with The Canadian Tenors and performed the theme song of the Closing Ceremony of the Special Olympics in Shanghai that was broadcast all over China and Asia. She was chosen to represent the Americas, among four other singers from five continents to sing a new version of We Are The World.

She recorded a Christmas Concert with Canadian-Irish Tenor John McDermott at the Rose Theater in Brampton, Ontario, on June 26, 2007 (to be aired in November and December 2007). The concert was also recorded on CD and DVD.[10]

Fumanti performed in an American Summer Tour along with the other performers of the PBS Special Heavenly Voices. The tour included Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington and Minneapolis, Minnesota.[11]

In Autumn 2007, she toured with the Asian musical group, 12 Girls Band, with shows in Japan and North America and Hawaii.[12]

Early in 2008, Giorgia sang a duet with Chinese pop singer Wei Wei, and the Fairchild TV/ Shanghai Media Group's "Chinese New Year All Star Show 2008". The show also marked the first time she sang in the Mandarin language.

In April 2008, Giorgia performed in Athens, Greece at the Athens Arena with Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis, Italian superstar Lucia Dalla and Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. Later that month, Giorgia performed in Beijing, China at the National Center of Performing Arts, with Chinese tenor Yu Qiang Dai and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. In August 2008, Giorgia performed for CCTV TV Special for the Beijing Olympics top rated show with over 700 million viewers.

Giorgia toured in the fall of 2008 with Italian crooner Patrizio Buane in the USA and released her first French speaking album Je Suis which went top 20 in French Canada sales charts.

Before the end of the year, Giorgia returned to China for another performance for Beijing TV.

In October 2008, Giorgia performed at the prestigious Opening Ceremony of the Nanning International Art Festival in Nanning, China

In November 2012, Giorgia performrf in the Pittsburgh area with the North Allegheny High School Concert Choir and Upper St. Clair High School Choir.

Charity work

Giorgia Fumanti served as the Spokesperson for Actions Montreal, the Québec Multi-Ethnic Association for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities AMEIPH.[13] She also served a two-year term as World Ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Association of Quebec (L’Association de paralysie cérébrale du Québec), performing concerts, meeting with members and media to increase awareness of the condition.[5]

Discography

Like a Dream CD

  • Release date: 2004
  • Label: Isba Music Entertainment/The Orchard
  • UPC: 829410412964

From My Heart CD

  • Release date: March 6, 2007 in North America and December 29, 2006 in Asia
  • Label: Manhattan Records
  • ISBN: P2872852

Heavenly Voices DVD

  • Release date: March 6, 2007
  • Co-performers: Ryland Angel, Giorgia Fumanti, Sasha & Shawna
  • Label: Manhattan Records
  • ISBN 978E91R79598

Je Suis CD

  • Release date: November 18, 2008
  • Label : Isba Music Entertainment / Universal Music Canada
  • UPC: 619061371921

Peace of Heaven CD

  • Release date: Jul 3, 2009
  • Label : Fortissimo
  • UPC: FOR77228

Magnificat CD

  • Release date: November 17, 2009
  • Label: Isba Music Entertainment / Universal Music Canada
  • ASIN: B002SXPKD4

Elysium CD

  • Release date: May 10, 2011
  • Label: Universal Music Canada
  • ASIN: B004VB477Q

Collection CD

  • Release date: September 18, 2012
  • Label: VEGA2 / Select
  • UPC: 7 79913 43392 1

References

  1. ↑ 'Giorgia Fumanti Debut CD', 4CDMusic
  2. ↑ "Giorgia Fumanti". Classical-crossover.co.uk. February 22, 1975. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  3. ↑ 'Giorgia Fumanti', Classic Feel (South Africa), December 2006
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 pattfield. "globesports.com: Quebec singer takes Dallas spotlight". Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Biography on Giorgia Fumanti's official web site
  6. ↑ "'Quebec Singer Giorgia Fumanti to Make U.S. Television Debut...', Press Release, ''Lexon Business Library'', 23 January 2007". Lexdon.com. March 6, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  7. ↑ Manhattan Records :: Quebec Singer Giorgia Fumanti to Make U.S. Television Debut When She Performs at the NHL All-Star Game in Dallas
  8. ↑ "Heavenly Voices official web site". Heavenlyvoices.net. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  9. ↑ "Tuscan Soprano Steals Show and Steals Hearts With Label Debut CD: Giorgia Fumanti's CD Follows Tour With Legendary Tenor Jose Carreras and Upcoming PBS Special". New York: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Press release, MCM Artists, June 2007" (PDF). Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Heavenly Voices". Heavenly Voices. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  12. ↑ "An Interview with Giorgia Fumanti". Chicagomusicguide.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Québec Multi-Ethnic Association for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities". AMEIPH. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 

External links

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