Stacey Kent Symphonique

Stacey Kent’s critically acclaimed and best-selling album, I Know I Dream, The OrchestralSessions, was released on Sony in Oct 2017 and garnered a coveted 5* review in Downbeat magazine and winning Jazz Vocal Album Of the Year at the 2018 Jazz Japan Awards. I Know I Dream had more than 40 million streams, and with concerts in many countries, this program has delighted audiences around the world.

The repertoire exceeds a single concert’s length. Concerts can be tailored according to an agreed concept between the artist and orchestra. The repertoire comprises songs from The Great American Songbook, Brazilian Songbook (Bossa Nova), French Chansons, plus original compositions for which Stacey Kent is famous, such as “The Ice Hotel,” from her Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling album, Breakfast on the Morning Tram. It is also possible to include quintet performances in amongst the orchestral arrangements.

Quotes from the maestros

“What an incredible honour and pleasure it has been for me to collaborate with Stacey Kent, Jim Tomlinson, the band, and the Tonkünstler Orchester on I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions.  Stacey, with her innate ability to hold and captivate a sold-out house with as little as a glance and a whisper, is enveloped and supported by these lush and juicy orchestrations, her one-in-a-million voice soaring above the full orchestral sound while still maintaining the intimacy that has endeared her to millions around the world. A true musical treat for audiences — loyal Stacey Kent fans, and symphonic ‘regulars’ who are perhaps newcomers to this genre —  and those of us sharing the stage with Stacey and the band, alike.” Karen Kamensek, Conductor at Musik Verein, Vienna & Festspiel Haus, St Polten, AUSTRIA

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“I remember very vividly my first encounter with the music of Stacey Kent: Driving home in my car from a holiday in the south of France, I listened by coincidence to the broadcast of one of her live concerts.  From the first moment, I fell in love with the beauty of her voice and her unique musical quality.  As soon as I got home I ordered several of her recordings and became a fan. What a happy surprise when I was asked a few years later to conduct the orchestra alongside Stacey in memorable concerts in Switzerland.  Needless to say that I didn’t hesitate a moment to seize this opportunity and that I was thrilled about our collaboration.  It’s a fond memory that I treasure very much!

What touches me the most with Stacey Kent is the purity and simplicity of her voice and how honest and real her interpretation of the lyrics is. Each word comes from her heart. I am impressed with Jim’s orchestration, which is always refined and captures beautifully the different styles of each song. While adding many specific colours it always features the quality of Stacey’s voice perfectly and evokes the unique poetic mood of their performance. Stacey and Jim are exceptionally gifted and sensitive musicians, who are capable of engaging their public as well as the orchestra and the conductor in an inspiring and exhilarating musical dialogue.” Maestro Nader Abassi with l’orchestre de chambre de Genève at Tonhalle, Zurich + Victoria Hall, Genève, SWITZERLAND

“Che gioia salire sul palco con Stacey Kent e la sua band guidata dall’ottimo Jim Tomlinson! La voce di velluto di Stacey che riempie la Elbphilharmonie, il suono dell’orchestra che ci abbraccia, il silenzio del pubblico durante le ballad più struggenti. Giorni preziosi che rimarranno con me per sempre.” (“What a joy to be onstage with Stacey Kent and her band, led by the excellent Jim Tomlinson! Stacey’s velvety voice that fills the Elbphilharmonie, the sound of the orchestra that embraces us, the silence of the audience during the most poignant ballads. These were precious days that will remain with me forever.”) Maestro Francesco Bossaglia with Orchestra Resonanz, (at Elb Philharmonie, Hamburg + Berlin Symphony Hall, January 2018), GERMANY

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“Working with Stacey Kent and Jim Tomlinson is a wonderful experience on simply every level. It goes without saying that they are extremely talented, world-class artists. What is equally important, however, is that they possess this unique ability to connect not only with the audience but also with fellow musicians on stage, thus creating an unforgettable, magical atmosphere of the performance.

Amazed by Stacey’s exquisite, enchanting voice and charming presence, Jim’s outstanding versatility, musical knowledge, and imagination, but most importantly – an immense musicality of both of them, I consider this cooperation as by far one of the best artistic – and personal – experiences in my career. Maestro Norbert Tworczynski, Sczecin Symphony Orchestra, POLAND 

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“The work with Stacey and Jim was exceptional, professional from the first minute, magical moments in which the audience easily moved to another world richer in emotions. Without a doubt a great show…” Maestro Richard Casero, Czech National Symphony, CZECH REPUBLIC

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” The work with Stacey and Jim was exceptional, professional from minute 0,  magical moments in which the audience easily moved to another world richer in emotions. Without a doubt a great show…” Ricardo Casero, Conductor with Orchestra of Opera Plovdiv, BULGARIA