Romina Arena
Romina Arena, The Queen of Popera, jpeg
Arena in 2006
Background information
Birth nameRomina Arena
OriginPalermo, Sicily
Genrespop, classical crossover, operatic pop
Occupation(s)Singer, composer, writer
Years active1984–present
LabelsDesign House/Toshiba-EMI, CP Productions/BMG, PC Music, Outback Records, NMG Records, Perseverance Records, Lakeshore Records
Websitewww.rominaarena.com

Romina Arena is an Italian-American popera, operatic pop, pop classical crossover, rock opera and new-age singer-songwriter.[1]

Early life

Romina Arena was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily, to a Sicilian mother, Rita and a Roman father, Renato. By the age of four, Arena became a Mouseketeer for Topolino, the Italian version of Disney's Mickey Mouse Club.[2] She also performed as a classical ballerina in the major Italian Theatres at the age of seven.[3] Performing with other children from different parts of Europe, Arena developed knowledge of 10 languages, including Italian, English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek, Bulgarian and Hebrew.[4][5][6] Arena calls herself "the voice of women with a broken heart" but is also referred to as "the voice of women who never give up".[7] When Arena was a teenager after leaving Disney behind and starting a solo career, she was attacked backstage of a prime time television show in Sicily. Her attacker severed her vocal cords with a pocket knife, leaving her comatose. Her physicians told her she would never sing again. However, she completely recovered over a three-year period. She fully regained her vocal abilities.

After Arena's father Renato died, she left Italy for the United States with her mother. There she came under the wing of Sal Pacino and his wife Katherin Pacino, the father and stepmother of actor Al Pacino. She resides in Los Angeles, California.[4]

Career

In 2000, Arena signed a production deal with music producer Bob Johnston to produce a full 12-track studio album.[8] Songs included "Make You Feel My Love", written by Bob Dylan, "I Can't Make You Love Me", written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, and "Smile" composed by Charlie Chaplin as well as many others although the album was never released. In 2001, Arena covered the classic Japanese song, "Subaru". Originally written and recorded by Shinji Tanimura, Romina recorded the song in Japanese and the song went multi-platinum and charted in the top position for a few weeks.[9] In 2003, Microsoft used her first Rock Opera single "Satellite", recorded in both English and Italian as the theme song for the video game Project Gotham Racing 2.[10] In 2010, she was the first recording artist to debut a live concert in the "Second Life" video game[11] and in 2013 recorded "I Want Love" as a featured track on the soundtrack for one of the most successful video game franchises in the history of the business, "The Best of Silent Hill" [12] released October 29 on Perseverance Records.

According to her interviews and press releases, Arena has had several number-one hits in Italy, Germany, Australia and Japan, selling over 4 million records worldwide over the lifetime of her career.[13] Arena developed a style that is a blend of operatic pop, rock and classical crossover.[4] In 2012, she released the album Morricone.Uncovered[14] in which she performs film music by Ennio Morricone to which she had set her own lyrics.[7] According to the Malibu Times, Morricone said "I decided to work with her because of her hard work and incredible successes achieved. But most importantly, I consider her the most dominant voice I have heard in my life. I do not allow just any artist to write lyrics to my movie scores. But for her, I make the exception."[15]

In an article written by journalist Robert Pugliese, "Arena uses her exquisite operatic (diaphragm and chest) but is sufficiently flexible to expand in Pop and Classical genre (for these singers, the neologism "popera" was coined). “What is striking in the color of Arena’s voice is that even in the high register and sovracuto - a rare use of falsetto - still maintains a serious center of gravity, dark, full-bodied that accentuates her dramatic vocal delivery. In addition to phrasing, incredibly sharp, marked and a mastery of the breath which results also in the expressive essential resource."[16]

In 2015, Arena signed to Lakeshore Records for a studio album to coincide with her book Where Did They Film That Italy. The album, titled Where Did They Film That Italy – The Music Journey, was released in June 2016 as a companion to the travel guide and features Arena performing award-winning songs from movies filmed exclusively in Italy.[17]

Romina has performed live for world figures including President Bill Clinton at the White House, Pope John Paul II at The Vatican, and Italian greats Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, and performed with Alessandro Safina in Las Vegas.[18] According to her interviews and press releases, she has also worked with and/or performed live with Lou Rawls, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Bill Conti, Al Martino, Gladys Knight, The Platters, Eliot Sloan from Blessid Union of Souls, Eric Rigler (pipes player from the famous music soundtracks of the movies Braveheart and Titanic (the 1997 film).[15] According to one press release, she also headlined on the Celine Dion stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.[19] Besides touring the United States, Arena has performed in several countries worldwide including Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, England, Portugal, Gibraltar, Casablanca, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and Fiji.

Romina Arena has starred and produced national TV specials with PBS, ABC-Disney, and ESPN and has written music for soundtracks in film and television. Her song Every Day Is Christmas Day was written and released for the Hallmark movie, A Christmas To Remember.[20] Her live TV specials include an national PBS concert special appearing as the lead female singer-songwriter along with pianist Jim Wilson, etc. live at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo, Texas.[21] Romina's ABC-Disney's Holiday Movie Skating Spectacular was hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, and World Champion Kimmie Meissner alongside a cast of various Olympic figure skating stars performing on ice to holiday music performed live by Romina and special guests, The Four Phantoms, the show airing twice in North America on ABC reaching over 50 million households worldwide, in an additional 77 countries around the world on ESPN.[22]

Discography

  • 1984 to 1993 – From the age of 4 to 13 years old Arena was signed to Disney Italy's Mickey Mouse Club and the companies "Prima Ribalta", "Shasa Digital Sound" and released three compilations and singles – Italy
  • 1994 "Una Vita Senza Vita" from San Remo Nuovi Talenti (New Talent) Festival Compilation – Italy (appeared as Romina Notarbartolo)
  • 1994 "You're The Only One" Peter Ciani Music – Australia (Single)
  • 1994: "Smile" released by Danilo Sulis Recordings – Sicily, Italy (Single)
  • 1994 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Germany
  • 1995 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Australia
  • 1998: "Fateci Santi" for The Vatican & Pope John Paul the second, produced & released by Beppe CAntarelli – compilation album
  • 2000 "Unreleased Album Project" produced by Bob Johnston – US
  • 2001 "Subaru" Design House/Toshiba-EMI – Japan
  • 2003 "Romina Arena" for Miller's Gin – Miller Spirits – US & UK (Premium)
  • 2003 "Satellite" Soundtrack from Xbox Video Game Project Gotham Racing 2, Microsoft Game Studios – US/Italy/International
  • 2004 "Romina Arena" American Entertainment Records– US
  • 2006 You're Gonna Hear from Me Outback Records – US
  • 2006 "Cuerpo Sin Alma" (Spanish) Outback Records – US
  • 2008 "Believe" NMG Records (Single)
  • 2009 "A Joyful Christmas" NMG Records
  • 2010 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) – NMG Records
  • 2010 "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" NMG/Macs Records – Italy/US
  • 2010 Romina Arena first artist to debut live concert in US "Second Life" video game[11]
  • 2011 "A Mother's Prayer" NMG Records (Single)
  • 2011 "Arthur's Theme" (The Best That You Can Do) NMG Records (Single)
  • 2011 "Life" released September 6, 2011 – NMG Records
  • 2012 "Morricone.Uncovered" released September 18, 2012 Perseverance Records
  • 2012 "Un Sogno Che Sognai" "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables released December 4, 2012 Perseverance Records (Single)
  • 2013 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) Re-release with new bonus tracks January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
  • 2013 "Subaru" "スバル" " Romina Sings Japanese" released January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
  • 2013 "I Want Love" from the album "The Best of Silent Hill" released October 29 – Perseverance Records
  • 2014 "Corazon Italiano" released June, NMG Records (Single)
  • 2014 "Annie's Song" released November 4, PoperaStar Records (Single)
  • 2015 "A Mother's Heart" April 28, PoperaStar Records
  • 2016 "Where Did They Film That Italy – The Music Journey" based on the book from the same title – Lakeshore Records released June 24
  • 2019 "Baby Mine" performed in tribute to Disney's Dumbo – Poperastar Records (Single)
  • 2019 "A Beautiful Surprise" released November 9, 2019 – Poperastar Records (Album)
  • 2020 "Holding You" English version, released February 6, 2020 – Poperastar Records (Single)
  • 2020 "Verte Amor" Spanish version, released February 6, 2020 – Poperastar Records (Single)
  • 2021 "Cinematica: Vol. 1" English-Italian-Spanish tribute to the greatest movie soundtracks of all time – Poperastar Records (Album)

Books

  • Where Did They Film That Italy (travel guide). Fresno: Linden/ Quill Driver Books, 2016. ISBN 9781610351829, OCLC 931295588

Awards

In 2010, Arena received several awards. She was one of the seven recipients of the Tricolor Globe Award from the organization Italian Women in the World,[23] one of the five recipients of the CSNA Award (Confederation of the Sicilians in North America) for promoting Sicilian culture worldwide,[24] and one of several recipients of the Golden Orb award[25] for her philanthropic contributions to the Arts Olympus project in Long Beach, California.[26]

In 2010, Romina Arena received the Global Citizen Humanitarian Award for her support to the children of Haiti, presented by Jim Luce of the New York Times/ Orphans International in collaboration with the United Nations and Honorary Member HRH Prince Albert of Monaco.

In 2012, Arena was one of the 20 recipients of the Premio Sicilla for being an "Ambassador of bel canto in the world".[27]

In 2020, Romina Arena received the prestigious “Filming Italy Los Angeles" Spotlight Award presented by Variety Magazine and Filming Italy LA for achievement in the music industry and cinema soundtrack, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Culture and the Italian Embassy of Los Angeles [28]

In 2021, Romina Arena was named the "Official Ambassador of Italian Excellence In The World" by the President of M.I.R.E. (Movement of Italians Residents Abroad) representing Italy and major Italian cultural events, awards, consumer experiences around the world [29]

In 2022, the Italian President and Onorevoli at the Camera Dei Deputati awarded Romina the "Patrimonio Italiano" as Italian Ambassador of Italian culture at the Italian Parliament in Rome.[30]

Articles and Interviews

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Romina Arena.

Charity work

Arena has worked with several non-profit organizations by appearing at fundraising events, including the American Red Cross[31] The Arts Olympus,[26] and Every Woman,[32]

References

  1. ↑ "Romina Arena, regina del Popera: Con la mia musica parlo di sogni e coraggio". Lavocedi New York. June 29, 2018.
  2. ↑ Martone, Eric (2017). Italian Americans: The History and Culture of a People (1st ed.). Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 338. ISBN 978-1610699952.
  3. ↑ D'Agnese, Generoso (April 2013). "Arena, una voce per Morricone". Il Messaggero di Sant'Antonio
  4. 1 2 3 ALO Magazine (Fall 2013/Winter 2014). "Romina Arena, The New Italian Voice"
  5. ↑ D'Alessandro, F. Anthony (1 August 2012). A Chat with Romina Arena", Times of Sicily Blog.
  6. ↑ Giornale Di Sicilia (29 January 2012). "Romina Arena, la siciliana che ha conquistato l'America".
  7. 1 2 Pugliese, Roberto (12 February 2013). "Recensione: Morricone Uncovered. ColonneSonore.net
  8. ↑ "Bob Johnston". HistoryOfRecording.com. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  9. ↑ "Romina Arena, la siciliana che ha conquistato l'America". Giornale di Sicilia (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  10. ↑ Project Gotham Racing 2 Soundtrack "Satellite" performed by "Romina Arena", retrieved 2020-06-12
  11. 1 2 "Nighttfire Entertainment News- November 6, 2010". Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  12. ↑ Carson, René (2019-07-25). "The Best of Silent Hill: Music from the Video Game Series (2014)". www.filmfetish.com. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  13. ↑ Azambuja, Léo (8 February 2008). "Mambo Italiano Famous Italian singer visits Molokai". Molokai Dispatch
  14. ↑ "Romina Arena And Perseverance Records To Release "Morricone.Uncovered" In September". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  15. 1 2 Malibu Times (26 September 2012). "A long road realized"
  16. ↑ "Morricone Uncovered". www.colonnesonore.net. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  17. ↑ Talent Monthly (June 10, 2016). Media Alert: Where Did They Film That?: Italy
  18. ↑ Fink, Jerry (2008). "Top 'popera' names in Vegas lights". Las Vegas Sun
  19. ↑ Shoot Publicity Wire (19 December 2012). "Romina Arena Gives Voice To The Music Of Ennio Morricone in 'Morricone Uncovered'"
  20. ↑ A Christmas to Remember (2015) - IMDb, retrieved 2020-06-11
  21. ↑ "Romina Arena". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  22. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Stockton Arena To Host Holiday Skating Spectacular on November 9". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  23. ↑ Il Resto del Carlino (5 July 2010). "Sette 'Oscar' in rosa A Bologna premio alle eccellenze al femminile"
  24. ↑ Corriere del Mezzogiorno (11 November 2010). "La storia della Targa Florio a Miami Premiati cinque siculo-americani". Retrieved 3 July 2016 (in Italian).
  25. ↑ "Arts Olympus Gala & Awards Event". events.r20.constantcontact.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  26. 1 2 Van Dyke, Jonathan (1 June 2010). "New Art Initiative On Queen". Long Beach Gazette. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  27. ↑ Ragusa Oggi (1 February 2012). Premio Sicilia 2012 - XIX Edizione
  28. ↑ "Filming Italy Los Angeles - Press Release". www.filmingitalylosangeles.it. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  29. ↑ "From Cinematica to being an Ambassador of Italian Excellence in the World: the success continues for a great Italian singer. An exclusive interview with Romina Arena". L'Idea Magazine. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  30. ↑ "Camera Dei Deputati, Patrimonio Italiano Award, conferenze stampa di Fuscia Fitzgerald Nissoli". Communicazione Inform. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  31. ↑ Magruder, Melonie (11 April 2011). "Santa Monica Red Cross puts on Black - Make that Red - Tie Affair". The Lookout
  32. ↑ Every Woman (October 2010). "Romina Arena Dinner Tickets Registration (archived from the original)
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