Described as the ‘Teenage Pavarotti’ as he rose to stardom through Britain’s Got Talent, Jonathan Antoine has not rested on his laurels after his first solo album Tenore went straight to No. 1 in the Classical charts and stayed there for 3 weeks as well as being John Suchet’s Classic FM album of the week.
After a string of live performances around the UK, Jonathan Antoine announces his second solo album Believe, co-produced by Chris Broom and Clarissa Farran and recorded at ‘British Grove Studio’ and “Air-Edel Studios” in London.
Believe, a hashtag Jonathan and his fan base (aptly named The ‘Fantoines’) began using in August 2015 has great significance to Jonathan. After battling with depression when he was younger, Believe signifies Jonathan’s change in mind state and shows how much he has developed, not only as a Tenor but also a person.
With a mix of classical arias, musical theatre songs and contemporary classics, Believe showcases Jonathan’s already matured beyond his years – with his upper range being a key feature, exemplified by vocal coach Joy Mammen (who has performed with Pavarotti himself) who said: “I don’t think there is Tenor past or present with a better Top C! He performs with charm, sincerity and a natural communication; a beautiful quality that will only improve”
Jonathan’s rich voice is captured in the impressive repertoire of Puccini, Ennio Morricone, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Chris Broom and the final track on the album which Jonathan co-wrote with Chris titled ‘A New Tomorrow.’ Other songs featured on the album include ‘Canta Pe’Me’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Che Gelida Manina’.
Jonathan Antoine has said “Recording an album is unlike anything else that I do, it is more intense and yet more relaxed than live singing. As nervous as I am to be putting this album on record forever, I am equally excited to try and make each song the best possible performance I can.” While speaking about the song he co-wrote with co-producer Chris Broom, ‘A New Tomorrow’, Jonathan said: “this is a song about a long journey, one that is very special and personal to me. Music has always been an output for emotion for me, and this is something I’m so glad to have put into words and sung.”
Chris Broom studied music at Canford School in Dorset, and after many years away from music recently returned to pursue a career as a composer and songwriter, Chris teams up here with arranger Clarissa Farran (arranging and orchestration for: Alberto Iglesias, Zbigniew Preisner and David Gilmour) to produce Believe which features four of Chris’s compositions: ‘Che Non Finisca Mai’, ‘Dolce Vento’, ‘La Nostra Patria’ as well as the co-write with Jonathan, ‘A New Tomorrow’.
Jonathan first trained at the Royal Academy of Music after auditioning for a junior place at the four major music conservatories in London at the age of 14 and being offered a place at all four. After the success of Jonathan and Charlotte on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 where they finished runners-up, and 2 albums as a duo, Jonathan released Tenore (tenor in Italian) in 2014. Jonathan appeared in a series of Balcony Roadshows before performing at the 2014 iTunes Festival after being invited by Placido Domingo.
Jonathan’s iTunes Festival performance received very favourable reviews including from Rupert Christiansen of The Telegraph who wrote:
“Sweetly and musically done by Jonathan Antoine…Somebody must be teaching this boy good vocal technique.”
‘Believe’ tracklisting
- Canta Pe’ Me
- Bring Him Home
- Che Non Finisca Mai
- E Lucevan Le Stelle
- Dolce Vento
- Un Giorno Per Noi
- Che Gelida Manina
- La Nostra Patria (featuring James Cleverton)
- Hallelujah
- Ave Maria
- Because We Believe
- Se (Cinema Paradiso)
- A New Tomorrow
