Musicality: Scala & Kolacny Brothers

This week thanks to a photographer  I follow on twitter,  I was introduced to Scala and Kolacny Brothers. Although they are new to me,  the group has been around for quite some time.  This pairing of a Belgian female chorus with classicly trained brothers has been turning out beautiful  cover songs since 1996!  How did I  miss them?   I felt better to learn  their first appearance on American soil at the New York Center happened  in Febraury 2009.

Choral music isn’t for everybody.  I realize that.  I happen to have a soft spot for it because of my years spent in school and church choir.  I also fondly remember the nights at summer camp, when all the girls would sneak out of their bunks and sing a choral rendition of praise songs to the boys.  Moonlight serenades were so dreamy and one of my favorite things about summer camp.    Scala reminds me of those happy times – albeit they don’t sing praise songs they sing covers of rock songs and ballads.    As their website describes them:

“The Scala Story is a dream come true. The  classically trained  Kalacny Brothers, Steven (piano) and  Stign (conducting) have turned this Belgian girls choir into an international phenomenon, performing imaginatively reworked covers of Radiohead, U2, Rammstein, and Nirvana songs – just to name a few. As well as their equally successful original compositions before sold out audiences through out the world.”

The 200 member choir  is made up of young women ages 16-26.    According to their website,  ”Scala Live”  will begin airing on PBS late this year, a DVD and CD  ”Circle” will be released Fall 2010, and a US tour is scheduled for 2011.     Some of my favorite covers include  U2′s “With or Without You”,  ”Every Breath You Take” by the Police, and “The Blower’s Daughter” by  Damien Rice.   If these songs don’t move you emotionally,  you may want to get your ol ticker checked out. ( just sayin)

Until their tour and release of their next album, you can bet these songs and others will definitely be on iPod “repeat” from time to time.   I’ll be singing along  adding a 201st voice to their mix.     After you take a listen you may want to be 202.