“Nella Fantasia” was originally an instrumental from the soundtrack of ‘The Mission.’Nathan Pacheco has proven to be one of the most talented voices from the younger generation of crossover opera singers. His soft tenor commands the attention of an audience with thrilling high notes, which at no point sound shrill or tinny.
“Nella Fantasia” was released on his most recent album, Higher. On the recording and in the video he is joined by cellist, Nicole Pinnell, and his sister Rebecca on piano. The intimate arrangement was performed in a little church that perfectly reverberates with Pacheco’s voice.
“Nella Fantasia” was never supposed to become an aria. The tune was originally a theme from the motion picture The Mission. Singer Sarah Brightman fell in love with the melody after seeing The Mission and wrote to composer Ennio Morricone to get permission to turn “Gabriel’s Oboe” into a lyric piece.
Morricone flatly refused and Brightman proceeded to send another letter pleading with the Italian composer every two months. It took three years, but eventually Morricone relented and allowed her to sing it. The lyrics are credited to Ferraù, but this is likely the name of the translator who changed Brightman’s English lyrics into Italian.
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