WHAT YOU’D CALL A DREAM (John Riesen)

John Riesen has been called “impassioned and vibrant” (Opera Today) and has been impressing audiences all over the country with his “heartfelt” singing.

Within the realm of classical singing, there are countless events (donor events, Pops concerts with symphony, fan appreciation nights, and gala concerts, etc.) where classical singers perform Pops and crossover selections like what I’ve chosen for this album. They tend to be the heartwarming, feel-good pieces that bring familiarity to operatic events. There has also been a large trend in the past 5-10 years with opera companies producing classical musical theater and operetta pieces in way they never have before because truly the only difference in style for some of these works is the use of microphones (which no longer bothers most companies). Most American companies have altered their seasons to include at least one American musical sung by opera singers (Michigan opera theaters Sweeney Todd, Chicago Lyric’s West Side Story, Houston Grand’s Showboat, The Metropolitan Opera’s Porgy and Bess, for instance), and I felt that now would be the best time to put out an album of such music while the tides are high.” – John Riesen

Something’s Coming (from West Side Story) Leonard Bernstein   

Make Someone Happy (from Do Re Mi) Jule Styne   

Bring Him Home (from Les Misérables) Claude-Michel Schönberg    

Student Serenade (from The Student Prince) Sigmund Romberg  

You’re the Best Craig Riesen  

First Drop of Rain Mark Dickson arr. Evan L. Snyder, feat. Gillian Lynn Cotter

O Sole Mio by Eduardo di Capua  

Dante’s Monologue* (from The Court of Monte Cristo) Evan L. Snyder     

O Danny Boy arr. Neill Campbell     

What You’d Call a Dream (from Diamonds) Craig Carnelia   

Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (from Das Land des Lächelns) Franz Lehar