Classical Crossover Global Music
Where Pop Meets Classical
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"Classical Crossover" or "Popera"
The Definition as presented by some of Music History's Greatest Artists


   Classical Crossover is a sub-genre of Pop music that is performed in an operatic/classical singing style.  Crossing into virtually all Genres of music.

It is a theme or motif from classical music stylized as Pop, or a theme or motif from pop music stylized as classical.

Although not as well known as Country , Jazz or Gospel music, Classical Crossover has been an unseen musical force since ... Elvis Presley ~  performed ballads such as "Torna A Surriento" and classics such as "O Sole Mio"  to 'You Gave Me a Mountain' and 'The Impossible Dream'  and 'American Trilogy' ~ all with crossover twists.
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   Luciano Pavarotti & The Three Tenors ~ brought Classical Crossover back to the spotlight in 1990 in Rome to raise money for Carreras's foundation, the José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation. It was also for his friends Domingo and Pavarotti a way to welcome Carreras back into the world of opera after undergoing successful treatment for leukemia. The Three Tenors held concerts produced by Hungarian Tibor Rudas+, at Dodger stadium in Los Angeles to coincide the final match of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, at the Champ de Mars under the Eiffel Tower ~ 1998 FIFA World Cup, and Yokohama ~ 2002 FIFA World Cup.
 
Their many concerts were a huge commercial success, The Three Tenors repertoire ranged from Opera to Broadway to Neopolitan songs and Classic Pop hits. The group's signature songs included "Nessum dorma" fand the ballad "O Solo Mio"..

   "Pavarotti & Friends", an annual charity concert which held it's 10th concert in 2003. Pavarotti performed with artists such as Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Anastacia, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, Elton John, Barry White, The Spice Girls, Sheryl Crow, Tom Jones, Natalie Cole, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Ricky Martin, BB King, George Michael, Enrique Iglesias, Grace Jones, Bono  Lucio Dalla, Gloria Estefan, Brian Eno, Sting, James Brown, Joe Cocker, and more..

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   2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games ~ Luciano Pavarotti performed "Nessun Dorma" at the opening ceremony, as his farewell performance and Andrea Bocelli performed "Because We Believe" at the closing ceremony.

    The influence of these early artists has given the Next Generation of "CC/Pop Opera Singers" their future careers with special gratitude to modern Internet & Cable TV.
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   In August of 2010, Classical Crossover was again thrust into the spotlight when 10 yr old Jackie Evancho took the stage on "America's Got Talent" singing Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro".  Jackie went on to record a platinum selling E.P. ("O Holy Night"). 2016, Jackie is busy developing her own unique identity in the CC genre.

   2013 saw young Amira Willighagen take the stage on Holland's Got Talent and Win 1st place. Today Amira is busy performing across the globe
particularily for charitable causes.

   Much will be seen from these two starlets in the near future, of that we may be assured !
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"I thought of myself as a Crossover Artist in the mold of Elvis, Glen Campbell, Olivia Newton-John, and John Denver. They touched multiple styles and did not restrict themselves to just one genre. They were in an elite group of artists capable of something called "Crossing Over".
                      Country Crossover Artist ~ Shania Twain

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Shania Twain

   Even before Elvis Presley made Crossover music acceptable to the mass audiences across the 1950's, 60's & 70's, .. there was the great Mario Lanza who not only performed Opera Arias, but he also Loved performing Popular pieces with an operatic sound. 

   Yet before Mario.. Great Singers such as Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, The Great Crooners through John Denver, Glen Campbell, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Eddie Arnold, etc..  all left their imprint on the "Crossover Music" style..

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   Classical Crossover or Popera  had a major rebirth in the late 20th Century with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" in 1986..

   Then in 1996-7 with Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman's incredible duet "Time To Say Goodbye" ..

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   In 1998, the animated movie "Quest For Camelot" was released with the theme song, "The Prayer" performed by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.

   Mid 1990's  ~ Selena Quintanilla-Pérez  was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. Called the Queen of Tejano music brought Crossover style, across the border to Mexico & Central America
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   In 2003, Canadian Crooner Michael Bublé released his first major album. The self-titled record was a worldwide success, hitting No. 1 in Australia, going multi-platinum in many countries, and reaching the Top 10 in the UK as well as Canada.
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   By 2007 Classical Crossover spread farther across the U.K. when Josh Groban performed with Sarah Brightman at the "Anniversary Concert for Diana" at Wembley Stadium; it was broadcast to over 500 million homes in 140 countries.

   On February 10, 2008, Josh Groban performed at the 2008 Grammy Awards with Andrea Bocelli in a tribute to Luciano Pavarotti and his groundbreaking work in the field of music as well as Classical Crossover or Pop Opera.
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The Classical Crossover genre has seen a number of new Artists & Veteran Voices join the Crossover ranks and spread their Musical Joy & Love to new fans world over..

Linsey Stirling ~ performs a variety of music styles, from classical to pop and rock to EDM. She achieved one million singles sold worldwide by August 2014. As of July 2016, her Lindseystomp YouTube channel exceeded 8 million subscribers and over a billion total views.

Il Divo ~ a multinational Classical Crossover vocal group. Since inception, Il Divo has enjoyed success worldwide, selling well over 30 million copies of its albums worldwide. Certifications in gold and platinum hits in 35 different countries, it pioneered the genre of operatic pop, or "popera", in classical crossover music.

Andre Rieu ~ Rieu and his orchestra have performed throughout Europe, North and South America, Japan, and Australia. The size and revenue of their tours are rivalled only by the largest pop and rock music acts. In 2008 Rieu’s extravagant tour. His portraiture of known music and he regularly works with various sopranos from across the globe, spreading CC music to all !

Jonathan Antoine ~ March 2012,  began the contest as "Jonathan & Charlotte" and sang The Prayer.  In the semi-final they sang Caruso, written by Lucio Dalla. In the final, again performing The Prayer, and received a standing ovation for their performance. Since both have become solo performing artist. Jonathan is often called the 'Young Pavarotti', which you certainly may agree with.
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