LOS ANGELES (12/12/95)--International opera star Placido Domingo will, for the first time, take center stage of the multimedia arena in a new CD-ROM title from Calliope Media and EMI Classics.
Scheduled for release in 1997, "Domingo" will include originally produced audio and video featuring the renowned tenor, excerpts from his performances in popular operas, a behind- the-scenes look at his on stage preparation, as well as extensive background information.
Domingo remarks, "I am happy to be among the pioneers in this fascinating and promising new media. Through the magic of interactive CD-ROM, I hope the art of singing will come alive in new and exciting ways for both experienced and new members of the public. With this technology, the possibilities are endless for making the experience of vocal art not only entertaining, but deeply educational as well."
The singer and composer has starred in over 100 operas from Wagner to Verdi and has recorded dozens of albums, eight of which won Grammies. Domingo is also known as one of the famed 'Three Tenors' along with Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras.
"This CD-ROM will allow both fans and new audiences to experience Placido's immense talent, intense passion for his work, and charm," said Robert Winter, the acclaimed multimedia author, performer, UCLA music professor and co-founder of Calliope Media. "Calliope's commitment to the arts is further enhanced by this collaboration, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with one of the world's greatest artists."
A majority of the title's musical content will come from one of the tenor's labels, EMI Classics, who will co-publish the title with Calliope. "EMI Classics is delighted to be collaborating with Calliope, one of the world's foremost CD-ROM publishers. Placido Domingo is unquestionably one of the most important artists of our time, and we are excited about the opportunities to take his art to an even wider audience through this technology," said Richard Lyttelton, president, EMI Classics.
Calliope is producing and publishing the work and Domingo, who has been personally involved with the project from its inception, is collaborating with Winter to develop the content.
One of the world's largest international music corporations, EMI Classics has worked with Domingo for over fifteen years. Domingo's EMI Classics discography currently includes Boito's Mefistofele, Gounod's Faust, Puccini's Tosca, Saint-Saens' Samson et Dalila, and Verdi's Aida, Un ballo in maschera, Don Carlos, Ernani, La forza del destino, Giovanna d'Arco and Otello. Domingo's first recording of popular Latin American songs, De mi alma Latina-From my Latin soul, was released in August 1995. Inspired by his lifelong love of Latin American music, this ground-breaking album has been a huge hit with his followers, and has already sold 700,000 copies worldwide. EMI Classics will release a second Latin American album in the Autumn of 1996. Placido Domingo has also recently recorded an album of famous solos and ensembles from the Opera, with soprano Ruth Ann Swenson and Baritone Thomas Hampson. This album, Opera Gala, will be released in March 1996.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Calliope is a privately held interactive publishing company focused on producing innovative titles in the arts, humanities and entertainment. The company was founded by Jay Heifetz, a communications industry executive, and Winter, whose multimedia works include the critically acclaimed titles, Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony," Mozart's "Dissonant Quartet," Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring," and Dvorak's "New World Symphony."
