Amici Forever ‎– The Opera Band / RCA Victor ‎Audio CD 2003 / 82876 60443 2

UPC 828766044324

Amici Forever is a band of four classically trained singers who mix opera with pop music (operatic pop). The band's first album, The Opera Band (2004), reached number one on the Australian classical charts, number two on the United States (US) classical charts and the top 5 in the United Kingdom (UK) classical charts.

The Opera Band is the debut album by Amici Forever released in 2004. 

The members of Amici Forever met when rehearsing and performing at opera venues around the world. Tenor Geoff Sewell, originally from New Zealand, came up with the idea of an "opera band" mixing traditional opera with contemporary pop. The band features two tenors, two soprano singers and a bass-baritone singer.

Amici Forever signed with Arista Records and started playing high-profile gigs such as the FA Cup final and the English rugby union final. Nick Patrick, who had produced albums by the Gipsy Kings, Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye produced the band's first album The Opera Band. The album mixes opera classics such as "Nessun Dorma" with pop standards such as "Unchained Melody" and "Requiem for a Soldier" from the Band of Brothers soundtrack.

It was released on 13 January 2004 and has reached number 74 in the Billboard 200 album charts in 2004 and reached the top 50 of the ARIA Australian album charts. The album has also reached number 2 on the Billboard Classical Crossover and Heatseeker charts and number one on the ARIA Australian classical album chart as well as top 5 in the UK classical charts. The album was nominated for "Album of the Year" at the Classical BRIT Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall on 26 May 2004 and was performed at the Awards.