What is the distinction between Italian and Neapolitan songs? Is it a question of the language?
That plays a role, of course. The pronunciation is completely different, the articulation and vowels have completely different colours that are not so easy to learn. Fortunately I had a very good language coach for the album and I think I’ve managed to acquire an authentic Neapolitan accent. Quite apart from this, however, the atmosphere of these songs is very special – on the one hand it is very close to Italian, while on the other it is very remote from it. Most of these pieces have an incredible sense of melancholy that is deeply moving. In spite of this, they are still regarded as “lightweight” in the world of classical music. That’s because of their wonderful melodies, which lodge in your head straightaway. In spite of this, there is often a great emotional depth to these songs, and as a singer you have to fill every single note with this passion. That is why these songs are by no means easy to sing. But listeners will search this CD in vain for the best-known songs such as Torna
