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Crossover Classical

 
 

Description of Crossover Classical

 
As a genre, Crossover Classical has come into its own in recent years through the commercial successes of musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, Charlotte Church, Vanessa Mae and Josh Groban. These artists offer an alternate take on classical music, infusing it with touches of pop and rock as well as more disparate influences such as Appalachian folk tunes, African chants and Nordic fishing songs. This style of classical music generally appeals to a wider swath of the population, although purists may lament that it's a diluted and inferior version of the real thing. In any case, the popularity of Crossover Classical is enticing more young people to take a second look at the genre and maybe even pick up a violin or try opera singing. It certainly doesn't hurt that many of the most successful Crossover Classical artists have been marketed with the gloss and sex appeal usually reserved for pop stars.
 

Filed Under

 
Classical  >  Crossover Classical
 

Crossover Classical Key Artists

 
Andrea Bocelli

The current reigning king of
light Opera, the blind
Bocelli has crossed over to
mainstream pop fans.
Bocelli's detractors say h...

Arthur Fiedler

Arthur Fiedler was the
beloved longtime
conductor of the Boston
Pops. He held the position
from 1930 to 1979, when "...

Bobby McFerrin

An amazingly gifted jazz
singer, McFerrin has
continued to experiment
since his surprise hit "Don't
Worry Be Happy." McFerr...

Charlotte Church

This Welsh wonder became
a household name with the
help of her angelic soprano
and cherubic demeanor.
Her "Voice of an Angel" d...

Edin Karamazov

Il Divo

Il Divo blend
classically-trained voices
with contemporary pop
hits. Simon Cowell of
"American Idol" fame brou...

James Galway

A world-reknowned flautist
from Ireland, James Galway
has been recording
easy-on-the-ears Celtic
instrumentals since 1974. I...

Joshua Bell

Hyper-competent Joshua
Bell is as at ease with
traditional classical
repertoire as with
contemporary works. To...

Laurie Anderson

Performance artist widely
recognized for her quirky,
avant-garde music.
Anderson had a minor hit in
1981 with "O Superman."...

Mario Lanza

Concert vocalist and actor,
Lanza performed for his
fellow infantrymen during
World War II as "The Service
Caruso."

Nigel Kennedy

A classically trained
violinist, Nigel Kennedy
found fame through his 1989
Vivaldi album and work with
Kate Bush and others.

Philip Glass

Glass' minimalism represents
a return to accessible, tonal
music after a full century of
serialism and other "noisy"
musics. Glass' first opera E...

Placido Domingo

This tenor is best is known
for his extensive Opera
work and sensual Spanish
love songs. His first
professional singing oppo...

Sarah Brightman

Classical crossover and
Broadway giant Sarah
Brightman's voice is bright
and clear with a
transparent, ethereal qua...

Sharon Isbin

Isbin's status as a touring
concert guitarist allows her
to commission new works,
such as a recent concerto
by Rouse. Contemporary...

Vanessa Mae

This young violinist has
gained international fame
for her music and her ability
to look good in a wet
T-shirt.

Yo-Yo Ma

A master of all things cello,
Yo-Yo Ma can be heard
smiling through
Appalachian, jazz, Brazilian
and other genres. Ma's mu...

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