Somewhere in 2022 I got to know Luca Brugnoli, after a friend of mine shared him on Twitter. And I immediately fell in love with his voice. Not much later I discovered he was part of Libera. Only to find out he is building on his solo career next to Libera and not as I thought at first that his solo career replaced Libera.
The first video release after I got to know Luca was that of Vincent (Starry, Starry Night), a cover of the Don McLean song.
Around Christmas 2022 Luca released his first single, a cover of When Christmas Comes to Town.
May 19th Luca released his first album: Rise Up. It’s a mix of classical songs and crossover songs. For those that don’t know what crossover means, in this case it means that it’s a pop song that is sung in a classical way,
I must admit, I like some classical music, but it’s not my usual genre. Yet when I listen to Luca singing, I find it much more appealing than normal. Luca has a beautiful voice and it sounds very good, almost as if all those songs just come easy.
When I received my copy of the CD, I played it on my blu-ray player and listed from track 1 until track 16.
My favourite classical song ever released is Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Requiem.
I happens to be in Luca’s version on the album as well.
On his website it can be read that this is Luca’s favourite classical song on the album and it happens to be my favourite classical song on Rise Up as well.
Then for the crossover songs. Luca’s favourite crossover song on the album is the title song Rise Up. Although I like the song it isn’t my favourite. It’s a bit hard to pick a favourite. I’ve got 2 songs I can’t choose between: Fields of Gold (originally by Sting) and Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) originally by Don McLean.
A special mention in the classical section goes to Panis Angelicus. I love that one very much too.
And a special mention in the crossover section is for a song that I know since I had music lessons in school (somewhere in the first half of the 90s). Those lessons mostly exist of singing and one of the songs I had to learn was The Rose by Bette Midler (written by Amanda McBloom)
The cover of the CD reads: Rise Up – Luca Brugnoli – A voice to be heard
And to be honest I can only agree with that last part. Luca’s voice is definitely one to be heard and best to do so, is by listening to his album Rise Up.
Where to get/listen to Rise Up:
Where to find Luca:
- Luca’s website
- Luca Brugnoli on Twitter
- Luca Brugnoli on Facebook
- Luca Brugnoli on Instagram
- Luca Brugnoli on YouTube
Love the review.
I cannot agree more. Luca has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard and he makes the singing look easy, although he works incredibly hard. I first heard him sing live at a Libera concert in 2009. In a group of around 35 other amazing voices. I was just enjoying the singing until Luca performed a solo. For a single voice to jump out and slap me in the face saying “Wake up. This is something really special.” is something that has only happened to me 3 or 4 times in 50 years and this is the best of all of those. Each time I hear him sing, I think “Can’t get any better than that.” and yet, somehow, he seems to do just that. An incredible talent with a voice that has to be heard to be believed.
Well said!