New tenor trio Vai DaCapo makes U.S. debut on public television.

Vai DaCapo: Songs of Delight features performances of 70s and 80s pop hits and Grammy-winning R&B legend Patti Austin

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WLIW21 in association with WNET.ORG presents Vai DaCapo: Songs of Delight, premiering nationwide March 2010 on public television (check local listings.) The new concert special marks the U.S. debut of the new tenor trio Vai DaCapo, made up of opera singers Nmon (IN-mun) Ford, Joseph Guyton and Colin Eaton. Filmed September 19, 2009 on the beautiful grounds of Germany’s picturesque Schwetzingen Castle – one of the few surviving rococo-style theaters in the world, Vai DaCapo: Songs of Delight features the tenors performing 70s and 80s pop hits, including The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Bill Withers’s “Lean On Me,” Journey’s “Open Arms,” and Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All,” as well as classical favorite “Torna a Surriento.” Grammy-winning R&B legend Patti Austin guests on performances of Michael Jackson’s “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” and Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’s “Up Where We Belong” from An Officer and a Gentleman. Vai DaCapo: Songs of Delight also features the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Frankfurt conducted by Dr. Barbara Rucha. The special is produced by Klaus Ulrich and Jürgen Hohmann of Maxi Media Entertainment Production and executive produced by Gustavo Sagastume of International Media.

The translation of the trio’s name Vai DaCapo is “to go back to the beginning” and that is exactly their mission on Songs of Delight. “We wanted to revisit music whose message might be missed these days,” explains Colin. “This is music from happier times, when songwriters addressed such topics as hope, inspiration and love, and for whom the words and the message were so very important.”

Combining the fireworks of classical singing with the easy and soulful charm of pop hits, Vai DaCapo creates new interpretations of some of the greatest love songs ever written with their powerful tenor harmonies and dynamic vocal range. By crossing genres Vai DaCapo hopes to bring opera to a new generation of audiences with Songs of Delight. “We chose music that was familiar, so that people wouldn’t be starting totally cold with only opera,” explains Nmon. “We bend the classical technique in such a way that it fits really well with the pop songs. It was very important for us to include music with strong melodies and rhythmic variety and a positive message.”

Each member of Vai DaCapo boasts an impressive musical background. Colin is a proud member of the world-famous United States Army Chorus, performing for troops in combat as far as Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as a soloist for President Reagan’s interment ceremony. Joseph trained at New York’s famed Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia before being invited to join the Placido Domingo Young Artists Program in Washington, DC. He has also performed on opera stages across Spain, France, Italy and the United States. Nmon was the soloist on the triple Grammy Award-winning recording of William Bolcom’s piece Songs of Innocence and of Experience and the Grammy-winning Transmigrations. An award-winning pianist, writer and arranger, Nmon graduated from the University of Southern California with honors. He also provided all of the vocal arrangements for Vai DaCapo: Songs of Delight.

Delivering an exhilarating performance in Songs of Delight, Vai DaCapo’s spectacular talent, fantastic rapport and boundless charisma are sure to captivate public television audiences and fans all over the world. Joe sums it up this way: “We’ve put our life’s breath into this project because we want to bring music to the world that people not only want to hear but need to hear.”

Song List
“Greatest Love of All”
“I’ll Be There”

“Easy”

“Up Where We Belong” (featuring Patti Austin)

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (featuring Patti Austin)

“My Girl”

“Say A Little Prayer” 

“Lean On Me”

“Open Arms”

“You Are So Beautiful”
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”
“Let’s Stay Together”
“Torna a Surriento”

Producers: Klaus Ulrich and Jürgen Hohmann for Maxi Media Entertainment Production. A presentation of WLIW21 in association with WNET.ORG.

DVDs & CDs of this program are available when you support WLIW21.