NEWS

Monday, 24 October 2016

ENGLISH ENCHANTRESS RETURNS

Life Inspired Magazine, 23 Oct 2016

From humble beginnings in Mansfield Nottinghamshire, Carly Paoli has captured the hearts of many around the world - including Pope Francis - with her enchantment voice.

"Carly is beautiful and very talented. Her voice brings across the emotion of this important song in a beautiful way," said the secretary to the Pope, Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, of Ave Maria, the official song of the Pope's Jubilee celebration this year which the British mezzo was hand-picked to sing.

Since her international debut in 2014, the 27-year-old has collaborated with world - famous names like Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Elaine Paige and David Foster, and performed at grand venues like St James's Palace, Windsor Castle, St Paul's Cathedral, Terme di Caracalla and Carnegie Hall. Come December, she will be performing in Rome again at Auditorium Parco della Musica for La Dolce Vita: The Music Of Italian Cinema accompanied by the OrchestraRoma Sinfonietta and led by distinguished maestro, Steven Mercurio.

At a concert at the O2 in London recently with Bocelli, the pair received a three-minute ovation from a 22,000-strong audience for the song, Time To Say Goodbye.

She says of that night: "There are no words for a performance like that. I feel like I am floating on another level. The reaction from the audience was incredible To get an standing ovation at the O2 after singing with Andrea Bocelli is something I will never forget. I feel absolutely blessed."

Next month, the gifted singer will be takinq centre stage at the 10th A Journey Through Time Tourism And Culture Gala Night: Watch And Jewellery Of The Year Awards Presentation 2016 in KL on Nov 4. This will be followed by a performance on Nov 5 at the Bedat & Co Gala Night.

Growing up in a working-class family – her dad a lorry driver and mum a travel agent Paoli recalls her journey to becoming one of the world's most in-demand classical singers: "I watched my family go through hard times. I was blessed to win scholarships for school and my degree, but that didn't mean it was free. My parents still had to pay for the accommodation. There were times when it was difficult, and my mother re-mortgaged the house to fund it."

Paoli attended Tring Park School For The Performing Arts in Hertfordshire and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

"Ever since I was a young girl I dreamed of being a classical singer," she says. "My mother is Italian, but I was born and raised in Nottinghamshire and I have been described as an English Rose with Italian roots. My childhood was spent surrounded by the rolling fields of the English countryside and the soaring voices of the world's greatest sopranos. I fell in love with classical music's ability to bring to life the most emotional stories, with beautiful lyrics."

Now the singer termed "pop-opera royalty" by the British press uses her fame for good. She has just been appointed patron of When You Wish Upon A Star charity in Britain, a cause that has been close to her heart since she was young.

She says of her first time working with them: "The charity which helps children with critical illnesses and their families gave me my first break when I was 12. I performed for them at a gala. The first time I felt wealthy was when I was able to give something out of my pocket to the charity two years ago." Since 2014, Paoli has been a Bedat & Co ambassador. Elegantly sophisticated, she embodies the values and appeal of the Swiss maison.

"Bedat & Co was founded by Madame Simone Bedat and specialises in fine time- pieces for women. When she founded the brand, Madame Bedat broke through the glass ceiling for women in the Swiss watch making industry, and since then the brand has used its ambassador programme to support and nurture female talent in the arts," says Paoli, sounding highly impressed. "I really identify with Madame Bedat's story and feel that her work echoes my own journey. Making music and making watches have a lot in common, as any form of creativity is about giving your heart and soul to a project."

On her continuous participation in YTL’s A Journey Through Time, Paoli says it holds a special place in her heart as it was her debut in Asia back in 2014. "The overwhelming support of my Malaysian fans is something I truly treasure. I feel great warmth whenever I am here. It has given me a platform to expand my career and share my talent with classical music lovers in Asia. I look forward to continually being part of it for years to come; she says.

Additional information obtained from www.carlypaoli.com