Romina Arena

Romina Arena
Background information
Born	(1980-05-12) May 12, 1980
Origin	Palermo, Sicily
Genres	Pop classical crossover, operatic pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer, actress, writer, music producer, music supervisor, dancer, screenwriter, author, voiceover and film producer
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Design House/Toshiba-EMI, CP Productions/BMG, PC Music, Outback Records, NMG Records, Perseverance Records, Lakeshore Records
Associated acts	Ennio Morricone, Marcello Giordani, Rick Allison, Andrea Bocelli, Shinji Tanimura, Alessandro Safina, Al Martino, Brian Wilson, Il Divo, Jim Wilson, Eric Rigler and many others
Website	www.rominaarena.com

Romina Arena (born May 12, 1980) is an Italian-American popera, operatic pop, pop classical crossover, rock Opera, and New Age singer-songwriter.

Early years and career beginnings

Romina Arena born and raised in Sicily, of a Sicilian mother Rita and a Roman father Renato. By the age of four, Arena became a Mouseketeer for Topolino, the Italian version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club. She also performed as a classical ballerina in the major Italian Theatres at the age of seven. Performing with other children from different parts of Europe, this is where Arena developed her multiple language skills. Her knowledge of 10 languages, including Italian, English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek, Bulgarian and Hebrew allowed her to open many doors to the international music market. Arena calls herself “the voice of women with a broken heart” but is also referred to as “the voice of women who never give up”

Attack

When Arena was a teenager after leaving Disney behind and starting a solo career, she was attacked at the backstage of a prime time television show in Sicily and her attacker severed her vocal cords with a pocket knife, leaving her comatose. Her physicians told her she would never sing again. However, she completely recovered over a three-year period. She fully regained her vocal abilities; a strange side effect of the attack was that she developed an extraordinary five-octave vocal range as a result of the trauma to her pharynx.

Past musical works

Arena has performed Popera/Operatic pop/Pop Classical Crossover. In 2000, Arena signed a production deal with legendary music producer Bob Johnston to produce a full 12 song studio album. For reasons unknown, the album was never released by the label that Johnston signed her to. The unreleased album included the songs "Make You Feel My Love" written by Bob Dylan, "I Can't Make You Love Me" written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, also "Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)" composed by Charlie Chaplin as well as many others. In 2001, Arena covered the famous Japanese classic song, “Subaru,” originally written and recorded by Japanese star Shinji Tanimura In 2003, Microsoft used her first Rock Opera single "Satellite" (Recorded in English and Italian) as the theme song for the video game Project Gotham Racing 2. Arena has had several number-one hits in Italy, Germany, Australia and Japan, selling over 4 million records worldwide over the life time of her career.

Recent musical works

Arena is noted for a unique style of operatic pop, rock and classical crossover. In 2012, Arena reunited with her long time mentor Legendary Oscar/Grammy award winning film composer Maestro Ennio Morricone who chose her to write and sing lyrics to his most famous movie scores of all time. The duo collaborated on their new album together “Morricone.Uncovered and was released September 2012 on Perseverance Records. When asked why he decided to work with Arena on this project. Maestro Ennio Morricone was quoted in the Malibu Times as saying “I decided to work with her because of her hard work and incredible successes achieved. But most importantly, I consider her the most dominant voice I have heard in my life. I do not allow just any artist to write lyrics to my movie scores. But for her I make the exception.” In an article written by journalist Robert Pugliese, Arena uses her exquisite operatic (diaphragm and chest) but is sufficiently flexible to expand in Pop and Classical genre (for these singers, has coined the neologism "popera") “What is striking in the color of Arena’s voice is that even in the high register and sovracuto - rare use of falsetto - still maintains a serious center of gravity, dark, full-bodied that accentuates her dramatic vocal delivery. In addition to phrasing, incredibly sharp, marked and a mastery of the breath which results also in expressive essential resource.

Live touring

Arena has performed and/or worked with Andrea Bocelli, Alessandro Safina, Lou Rawls, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Al Martino, Gladys Knight, The Platters, Eliot Sloan from Blessid Union of Souls, Eric Rigler pipes player from the famous music soundtracks of the movies Braveheart and Titanic 1997 film, and headlined on the Celine Dion stage The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Besides touring the United States, Arena has performed several countries worldwide including Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, England, Portugal, Gibraltar, Casablanca, Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and Fiji.

Discography

• 1984 to 1993 – From the age of 4 to 13 years old Arena was signed to Disney Italy's Mickey Mouse club and the companies "Prima Ribalta", "Shasa Digital Sound" and released three compilations and singles – Italy
• 1994 "Una Vita Senza Vita" from San Remo Nuovi Talenti (New Talent) Festival Compilation – Italy (appeared as Romina Notarbartolo)
• 1994 "You're The Only One" Peter Ciani Music – Australia (Single)
• 1994: “Smile” released by Danilo Sulis Recordings – Sicily, Italy (Single)
• 1994 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Germany
• 1995 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Australia
• 1998: “Fateci Santi” for The Vatican & Pope John Paul the second, produced & released by Beppe CAntarelli – compilation album
• 2000 "Unreleased Album Project" produced by Bob Johnston – US
• 2001 "Subaru" Design House/Toshiba-EMI – Japan
• 2003 "Romina Arena" for Miller's Gin – Miller Spirits – US & UK (Premium)
• 2003 "Satellite" Soundtrack from Xbox Video Game Project Gotham Racing 2, Microsoft Game Studios – US/Italy/International
• 2004 "Romina Arena" American Entertainment Records– US
• 2006 You're Gonna Hear from Me Outback Records – US
• 2006 "Cuerpo Sin Alma" (Spanish) Outback Records – US
• 2008 "Believe" NMG Records (Single)
• 2009 "A Joyful Christmas" NMG Records
• 2010 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) – NMG Records
• 2010 "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" NMG/Macs Records – Italy/US
• 2011 "A Mother's Prayer" NMG Records (Single)
• 2011 "Arthur's Theme" (The Best That You Can Do) NMG Records (Single)
• 2011 "Life" released September 6, 2011 – NMG Records
• 2012 "Morricone.Uncovered" released September 18, 2012 Perseverance Records
• 2012 "Un Sogno Che Sognai" I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables released December 4, 2012 Perseverance Records (Single)
• 2013 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) Re-release with new bonus tracks January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
• 2013 "Subaru" “スバル" ” Romina Sings Japanese" released January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
• 2013 "I Want Love" from the album "The Best of Silent Hill" released October 29 – Perseverance Records
• 2014 "Corazon Italiano" released June, NMG Records (Single)
• 2014 "Annie’s Song" released November 4, PoperaStar Records (Single)
• 2015 “A Mother’s Heart” April 28, PoperaStar Records
• 2016 “Where Did They Film That? Italy – The Music Journey” based on the book from the same title – Lakeshore Records to be released

Author of books

In 2012, Arena signed a multiple book deal with Linden Publishing/ Quill Driver Books. Her first book "Where Did They Film That? Italy" will be released in 13 languages worldwide 2016.

• 2016 "Where Did They Film That? Italy – Linden/ Quill Driver Books – Travel Book
• 2016 "Romina – Baby Bug Bambina" – Linden/ Quill Driver Books – Children's Book

Partial List of Awards

• In 1989 Arena performed at the Festival degli sconosciuti and won as a finalist in Ariccia Festival degli sconosciuti
• In 1994 Arena performed at the San Remo festival in San Remo Italy and won as a finalist from San Remo Nuovi Talenti. (appeared as Romina Notarbartolo)
• In 2005, Arena received a lifetime achievement award from RAI International Italy for her contributions to the music industry.
• In 2010, Arena became the recipient of the Tricolor Globe Award, the equivalent to the American Oscar in Italy, for best female Italian artist in the world and as a humanitarian. In September 2010, Arena performed for over 300 million viewers on European Television Rai 1, Rai Italia, Rai Radio 1, Canale 5
• In 2010, Arena became the recipient of the CSNA Award (Confederation of the Sicilians in North America), for most successful Sicilian-Italian female Artist and Humanitarian in North America.
• In 2010, Arena received the Gold Orb Medal, presented to her by the Olympic Games of the Arts.
• In 2010, Arena was awarded the Global Citizenship Award by the United Nations, in collaboration with Orphans International, The New York Times and Prince Albert of Monaco for her humanitarian support to the children of Haiti.
• In 2012, Arena received the famed Premio Sicilla, where Romina was awarded as best-selling recording artist in the world from Sicily.

Charity work

Arena has helped many major non-profit organizations over the past years to raise over a million dollars from such organizations, including the American Red Cross The Arts Olympus. and Every Woman,

Personal life

After Arena’s father Renato passed away, she left Italy for the U.S. under the wing of Sal Pacino and his wife Katherin Pacino, the father and stepmother of the actor Al Pacino. Arena presently resides in Los Angeles, CA

External links

• Romina Arena Official website