Appassionante

Classic is sexy!

All three of them have classical singing training - but at first glance you would think the singers of Appassionante would be more in the vibrant nightlife than in the opera house: Stefania, Mara and Giorgia are young, spontaneous and stunningly attractive. Just like their music, and it fits into both worlds, traditional and pop. "Opera and classical music are extremely modern," says Mara, and a delicate smile plays around the corners of her mouth, "you just have to understand and interpret them in this way." And that's exactly what the three singers do convincingly in every respect. Appassionante means something like “the passionate ones”, and the name is inseparably linked to the origin of the trio: “Our Mediterranean temperament speaks from the singing,” says Giorgia, “everything that moves us as people.” And that’s how joie de vivre sounds , melancholy and above all passion from the play of the voices - seductive for the ears, but also for the eyes. "No one is forcing us to appear on stage in a traditional and high-necked manner," explains Stefania with a charming wink. "We enjoy it: eroticism and music are two very passionate forms of communication, and together they create a very strong language." Stefania, Mara and Giorgia don't shy away from showing that sensuality, musically and in their overall appearance. Appassionante are modern, spirited and sexy. And just as they are, they free the classic sounds of any dust and shape them into hit songs. Without any fear of contact.

Roman voices with international success.

Appassionante's center of life is Rome. This is where people spend their free time, drawing ideas and strength from the liveliness of the eternal city, and this is also where the trio came from. Long before Appassionante existed, the singers met in Rome, got to know and appreciate each other. But no matter how much the color and character of the music are influenced by the Italian attitude to life, the trio made their first public appearance from Germany: their debut album “Appassionante” was released in Berlin in 2005. "Germany has become a second home for us, this is where our adventure began," Stefania remembers the beginnings in this country, "and we have grown very fond of both the beauty and the character of this country. Here, both art and foreign countries are treated with great respect.” Appassionante's success has meanwhile carried it far, from the first meeting in Rome to the recordings in Germany and out into the wide world, to South Africa or Singapore.

Appassionante reported back to their audiences in all these countries on July 25, 2008 with the Roman greeting "Salve". Accompanied by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra of Prague, a powerful yet beguilingly delicate combination of pop and classical elements was created. Strings go hand in hand with danceable beats, new titles composed for "Salve" meet Italian classics and global successes of recent music history - and are given a very unique face through the style of Appassionante. "For example, we reinterpreted "Sweet Dreams" symphonically with an orchestra and acoustic arrangements, the southern passion for the Spanish guitar went very well with it - and now it's a mixture of classic, flamenco and dance," laughs Mara. “But tracks like “Sweet Dreams” or “The Show Must Go On” are a very big challenge for us. You only try to approach artistic icons like Freddie Mercury with great reverence and also embarrassment.” The diversity of the album is not only evident in the selection of the pieces and the different styles and instrumentations, the linguistic spectrum also ranges from Italian, English and Spanish Latin to Neapolitan, which is far more than just an Italian dialect. Despite the diversity, tradition and the joy of experimentation always remained in balance on "Salve". Because the music, which is also very powerful even in quiet moments, always bows its head to Stefania, Mara and Giorgia, who playfully and emotionally combine classic and modern in their haunting voices.

Stefania Francabandiera comes from the port city of Barletta in southern Italy's Apulia - perhaps that's where her close emotional connection to the sea comes from. In any case, the sea corresponds to her character, with its crackling tension between sweet waves and profound power: Stefania spends her free time with literature, her preference for sensual clothing - and also with kickboxing in the gym. For the early riser, this is the ideal combination for caring for body and mind. Stefania studied classical singing in Bari, but also worked with internationally known Italian pop music greats such as Zucchero and Eros Ramazzotti before launching her own project Appassionante.

Mara Tanchis' motto is "Today is the first day of your life!" And true to this motto, she organizes her daily routine: meeting friends, dancing and turning night into day in the heat of Rome - and, in contrast to Stefania, if possible not before get out of bed at noon. But there are also quiet moments, from time to time Mara retreats to the seclusion of small mountain villages to let her soul dangle. Mara is not from mainland Italy, she was born in Sardinia. Musically, she initially chose the classical path and studied at the Conservatory in Bologna. Her voice even took her to the Vatican, where she sang for the Pope. With Appassionante she can combine her education with her musical preferences: Mara's idols are Freddie Mercury and Whitney Houston.

Giorgia Villa has many, very different passions. One is for the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971, another for painting, and a third she has in common with many women: she collects shoes. Born in Rome, Giorgia grew up in Frosinone, the capital of the province of the same name south of Rome. She moved to London early on to study classical and modern music. And a little too to conquer the world from there: Giorgia worked with artists like Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams and others. But "La dolce vita", the masterpiece by director Federico Fellini, awakened her fascination for her native city. Once there, the path to Appassionante was not far: since 2007 she has been Emma Ahren's successor.