Aria 3: Metamorphosis CD

Aria (Goth)/Various Artists/Paul Schwartz (Producer): Paul Schwartz .
Personnel: Paul Schwartz (piano); Rebecca Luker (vocals); Hugh Burns (guitar); Julian Leaper, Perry Mason, Chris Tombling, Liz Edwards, Mark Berrow, Katherine Shave, Dave Woodcock, Simon Fischer, Beatrix Lovejoy, Pete Hanson, Rebecca Hirsch, Dermot Crehan, Patrick Kiernan, Boguslaw Kostecki, Gavyn Wright, Jackie Shave (violin); Zoe Lake, Rachel Bolt, Garfield Jackson, Peter Lale, Bruce White (viola); Naomi Wright, Ben Chappell, Caroline Dale, Jonathan Williams (cello); Nick Rodwell (clarinet); Paul Gardham (horns).
Additional personnel: Rebecca Luker.
Audio Mixer: Peter Cobbin.
METAMORPHOSIS is the third installment in Paul Schwartz's popular Aria series and, like its predecessors, it builds contemporary ambient and dance tracks out of excerpts from famous opera arias. The stirring soprano of Broadway's Rebecca Luker, and a full choral backing, are featured throughout METAMORPHOSIS, lending classical credibility to the project. Yet Schwartz's sensibility is unmistakably modern, as proven by his use of keyboards and samples to create textured, driving grooves.
Still, Schwartz employs a full string orchestra, giving the music a rich, organic feel. Additionally, all the vocals are recorded live, which further increases the palpably human element even amid the sometimes jazzy, glitchy programmed beats. Completely unique, ARIA 3: METAMORPHOSIS is a kind of warp-speed time machine in which club-goers can visit an 18th century opera house, creating a startling new experience for all involved.