''Inspirato'' is the fifteenth studio album by Yanni, released in 2014. To create the album, Yanni collaborated with opera tenor Plácido Domingo and producer Ric Wake to select distinguished vocalists to perform songs that Yanni had previously released over his career.
Content and production
The album's tracks are based on selected songs from throughout Yanni's career, but have newly created lyrics sung by distinguished vocalists having opera backgrounds. The dominant language of the album's lyrics is Italian. The album, with its lyrical and classical elements, was characterized as reflecting a radical change in Yanni's style. Despite the album's use of opera singers, Yanni emphasized the album was "not opera."
Yanni collaborated with tenor Plácido Domingo and producer Ric Wake to match Yanni’s songs to the respective vocalists. In part because of the distinguished vocalists' schedules, the project is said to have required four years to complete.
Contributors to album
The following individuals contributed to ''Inspirato'' (listed alphabetically).
File:Domingo part.jpg , Plácido Domingo
File:D-01-Placido-Domingo-Jr.jpg ,
Plácido Domingo Jr.
Plácido Francisco Domingo Ornelas (born 21 October 1965), better known as Plácido Domingo Jr., is a Mexican-Spanish singer, songwriter and record producer.
Early life
Born in Mexico City to Plácido Domingo and Marta Domingo, from an early age ...
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Maria Jenkins (born 29 June 1980) is a Welsh singer. She is a mezzo-soprano and performs operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre, and hymns.Chloe Lowery
File:20160810MicaëlaOesteCropped.jpg, Micaëla Oeste
File:Nathan-pacheco-2011.jpeg , Nathan Pacheco
File:20140419RolandoVillazónCropped2.jpg , Rolando Villazón
File:RussellWatson-Broadlands-2007.jpg , Russell Watson
File:YanniPressPhoto.jpg , Yanni
File:PrettyYendeCropped428px.jpg , Pretty Yende
Track listing
''Inspirato'' includes the following tracks.
Except for the adaptation ''Ode À L'Humanité'' (''Aria''), all songs were written and composed by Yanni.
Production
* Produced by Yanni & Ric Wake
* All music composed by Yanni, except "Ode À L'Humanité". The song is loosely based upon a short, but beautiful part of the 19th century French opera, Lakmé, by Léo Delibes.
* Engineered by Yanni & Travis Meck
* Arranged and mixed by Yanni
* Orchestrations by Yanni & Colin O'Malley
* All music recorded at Yanni's Private Studios
* Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles
* Executive Producers: Yanni, Plácido Domingo, Ric Wake & Don Franzen
* Art Direction & Design: Norman Moore, DesignArtLA.com
* Cover Photography: Krystal Ann
* Additional Photography: Silvio Richetto & Whit Padgett
Reception
''Inspirato'' peaked at #1 in ''Billboard's'' Top New Age Album category for 2014 and 2015,Yanni / Inspirato/ Awards (tab) / ''Billboard'' albumsarchive , Allmusic, viewed 2015-02-17. and was ''Billboard's'' No. 11 selling New Age album of 2014."YEAR END 2014"archive , Billboard.com.
In March 2015, ''Inspirato'' received the Best Album of the Year award from ''Reviews New Age'' (Spain).
The album's extension of Yanni's style into the lyrical and classical was characterized by ''Reviews New Age's'' Alejandro Clavijo as being an overwhelming success.
