XCLUSIVE! Legendary composer Yanni in the hotseat for an Xclusive Interview

This week in Xclusive! I had the pleasure of catching up with world famous composer, producer and instrumentalist, Yanni Chryssomállis. A penchant for breaking boundaries, Yanni’s legendary concert “Live At The Acropolis” captured in 1993 has since reached an incredible six-times platinum, (second only to Michael Jackson’s Thriller). The renowned musician is currently on a world tour and has released his highly anticipated new album “Inspirato” this week! With a career spanning over 30 years he continues to make music that moves and inspires. 

Yanni, from a young age you have been involved in music – how did that passion first ignite?  

There were several factors that influenced my passion for music. First, my parents never forced music on me and we had a very happy relationship with music. Music was always something that I could play with and experiment on without judgement. This type of environment made music a passion for me because it was always something that I enjoyed and was not a chore. When I was young and could hear songs on a transistor radio, the only way I could hear them again was by playing them on the piano. These were my first experiences with music.

You draw from a diverse range of genres in your music; classical, jazz, soft rock and world music; how would you describe your sound?  

 I have always composed music that is an honest reflection of my soul. My music is influenced by all of the music I have been exposed to as well as the experiences I have been fortunate enough to have with people and cultures around the world. Therefore, I believe that the music I compose reflects all of these influences, from classical to rock and roll, so I feel that there is a full spectrum of emotion that is communicated and with instrumental music there are no lyrics that limit how I can express myself with music.

How do you feel your Greek heritage has influenced your music?

 Growing up in Kalamata was a blessing that I will hold dear forever. We did not have a lot of money, nor did we have a lot of extravagances like TV or computers. But we had nature, the ocean, family and friends. This type of environment allowed us to be more creative and focus on appreciating and finding happiness in the some of the most important things in life such as creativity or imagination. I believe it was this necessity that first developed my ability to imagine and create music.

Your first live album – a concert at Greece’s historic landmark The Acropolis in 1993 was groundbreaking – how did that come about?  

 The Acropolis concert was a very challenging event. It was something that I wanted to do for a long time. Being able to perform there was not so easy. We had to deal with many challenges that I could not have imagined but I always saw the concert in my mind and kept focussed on reaching the final goal. In many ways it was a very difficult and lonely time as I had little support from the record label and had to deal with most of the arrangements and negotiations myself and had no financial support. I always believed that this would be a magical concert being in such a spectacular venue. To this day I believe that theatre has among the best acoustics and sound of any venue in the world today.

You have performed at some of the worlds most iconic landmarks including India’s Taj Mahal, the Kremlin in Moscow and China’s Forbidden City - are there any other places in the world you would love to set your stage?  

 We are constantly being asked about performing at some of the greatest monuments that man has built and I love all of these opportunities. It is difficult to get everything to come together for these events so it does take a lot of time. Presently we have no confirmed event such as those you mentioned but we are working on several possibilities in the Middle East, South America and Asia.

You are starting your world tour this month entitled World Without Borders and will be performing live in London on the 23^rd April at the Royal Albert Hall – your first UK show in 19 years. What can audiences expect on the night?  

 I feel this is the best show that I have ever had to tour with. The audience will hear music from my very first albums right up to my most recent studio album. The concert takes the audience on a journey of experiencing many different emotions. I believe that the musicians in the orchestra are the best in the world and we have 11 different nationalities represented in the stage and this delivers a very unique and inspired performance. Our diversity is our strength and I am very excited to be back at the Royal Albert Hall after so many years.

Will you be performing past hits as well as any new material?  

 Yes, we will be performing many of the songs that we just must perform because they are the core of how people know my music but we also have some new songs and many new arrangements that are created just for the live performance.

Accompanying you will be a host of talented musicians from across the globe, is it true that you hand picked every member of your orchestra?  

 The current orchestra has come together over the past 25 years. Some of the musicians have been with me since the 1990s and others have just come to us in the past 5 years. Finding the right chemistry and performing ability for each musician is critical. Every musician in the orchestra has been referred by someone we already worked with and then we begin an audition process to see how the new person will react musically and characteristically. Bringing a new musician to the orchestra is a very important decision. They need to be a good person with strong values as a person in addition to their playing ability. Yes, I am involved in every step of the process, this is my life.

You have released your new album entitled “Inspirato” and there is a beautiful tag line “Elevation of the human spirit to a higher level of awareness, feeling and empowerment” – do you feel that music and spirituality collide?

 Yes. I believe that music evokes an understanding or a communication with a person's soul. The relationship with music and the experiences of emotion are very strong. Fro example if you hear a song that evokes a particular memory or conveys a certain feeling you derive an emotion associated with that. Music has always been used in this manner and is present throughout all of our lives. Music is an important part of the full spectrum of human life. Music is a part of our most important moments such as weddings, funerals, difficult times and celebration. 

You’re best known for your instrumental compositions but this album pairs each track with a host of esteemed vocalists (Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson to name a few). The new album has 13 tracks and each song on “Inspirato” has a deeply personal story behind it and is said to tell the story of the different loves in your life; what has inspired the compositions featured on the album? 

 These compositions are some of my most meaningful work. I wrote these songs about many of my deepest emotions such as my love for my parents, my love for my home, my love for humanity and my love of personal relationships. The lyrics were written in a manner which spoke for each artist and would convey a similar emotion as the instrumental composition. This album really is the story of the loves of my life.

Can you tell us about “Ode A L'Humanite" with opera singer Pretty Yenda?  

 That is a very special story. I recorded that song in to be the music for a TV commercial for British Airways. During the 1990s this TV commercial was aired extensively on TV throughout the world, including South Africa. Pretty Yende was a school girl at the time that this TV commercial was being played and heard "Opera" type music in this commercial for the first time in her life. She was studying business and accounting at the time but was fascinated by the voices and vocal style of the music in the commercial. She sought the assistance of a teacher who explained to her all about Opera and it was at this point that Pretty knew that she had to be an Opera singer. For the next decade and through a very determined and passionate pursuit Pretty has now found herself as one of the brightest young stars in the opera world. During an interview in the NY Times, she mentioned this story and we were about to get in touch with her and she went into a studio in Milan to record her own vocals singing that original song that inspired her career. It is the last time that I will ever record this song, Pretty has given this song the recording that I always imagined it would have.

The album took four years to complete - how do you feel now, in it’s week of release? 

 I am very excited for this music to be shared with everyone. Completing this type of project with the greatest voices in the world is challenging because of their very demanding schedules. It is a triumph that we all managed to stay with this project to its completion. I love this album and I hope that people will enjoy it as much as I do. 

How do you feel your sound has evolved over the years?

 The sound has evolved immensely as I have the ability to be more creative. In many ways technology has helped with the development of the sound of my music. We now have more tools available and more efficient systems to create new music. The sound designs that can be accomplished with minimal time are simply amazing compared to 20 years ago when you recorded everything with tape. I love this freedom and the ability it has given to me to realize more of the imagination that I have for music.

Your music not only transcends geographical borders but also genre and touches people of all races and nations – what do attribute that to?  

 I believe that all of us, throughout the world people are similar. A grandfather in China loves his grandson the same manner in which that relationship occurs in Brazil, USA or anywhere else in the world. So when I perform certain songs, the reaction from the audience is the same regardless of where we are in the world. It is also helpful that by composing instrumental music, there are not lyrics to limit the understanding of my music.

What do you think has been the secret to your success and longevity in the music industry?

 I do not think it is any secret. I have a passion for what I do with music and this passion has made it possible to for me to dedicate my life to music so I am able to dedicate the enormous amount of work that is necessary to establish and maintain a professional career as a musician. Also, I am fortunate that so many people around the world have been appreciative of and connect with my music.  There was no master plan of how to be successful, I simply followed my passion.

There are several charities and humanitarian efforts that are close to your heart including WWF please can you tell us about your involvement in these causes and your hopes for the future?  

 During most of my concerts, I share a few words with the audience about this. I leave them with the message of whatever we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves. We are all living together on this one tiny planet. We need to learn to help each other and to love each other. If we can’t love each other than we need to learn to accept each other, if we can't do this then we have to learn to tolerate each other. In the future it will become a necessity. The relationship with WWF came from an honor from the Chinese people. They invited me to adopt a baby Panda and I became aware of the world and the intelligent manner in which people were approaching the environment and our survival on this planet. I support these initiatives of WWF.

You have accomplished so much in your career - what’s next for you Yanni?  

 At the moment I am releasing the "Inspirato" album and I have just started another world tour that will account for almost all of my time for the next few years. I am not sure what else will be done but I am very happy at this point in my life to working and travelling so much.

It’s been a long wait but your UK fans will soon have the opportunity to experience your music up close and personal – what message do you have for the London Cypriot community?  

 One of the great joys of my career is that I have been able to travel the world and meet so many diverse cultures and ethnicity's  At almost every concert, I hear from the Greek Cypriot community in each audience and it always makes me feel good and reminds my of my roots. I look forward to performing for them again here in London.

*****

You can see Yanni live in London at the Royal Albert Hall on the 23^rd April 2014 – tickets now available at www.kililive.com. For more information on Yanni and his music visit: www.yanni.com

*****

That’s all for now ~ more music and entertainment XCLUSIVES coming soon…

Until next time x Mwah

***********************************************************

Catch all the latest music Xclusives on Katerina’s Live DJ Show: ‘Young & Connected ~ Scandalous! Two hours of unadulterated Modern Greek hits; 1st for new music, celebrity gossip, chart news, interviews and of course listener’s special requests and dedications! Not to mention a few surprises along the way! Live on LGR 103.3fm and online at www.lgr.co.uk on Tuesdays 8-10pm. SCANDALOUS!

If you would like your CD or event featured or reviewed in Xclusive! Contact Katerina: via email: katsmusiq@gmail.com   / Facebook: Kat Neocleous

Published in The Parikiaki Newspaper - 27th March 2014