Emma Shapplin
FranceBiography of Emma Shapplin
Emma Shapplin, the French classical singer, was born on May 19, 1974, into the Shapplin family, a family of music lovers. Growing up as a spirited girl, Emma inherited her beauty and restlessness from her mother, while her father, a nature enthusiast, instilled in her a passion for life and a love for everything around her.
Musical Inspiration
Emma's journey into the world of music began when she was 11 years old. One day, she was captivated by the beautiful melody of "The Queen Of The Night" that accompanied a commercial on television. Emma couldn't get the music out of her head for several days, amazed by its beauty. While other children sang songs about bells and roses, Emma sang Mozart. Wherever she went, at home, on the street, or at school, she constantly sang. The school's principal soon discovered that the disruptor of school rules was none other than young Emma. After being put on the spot in front of the entire school, Emma showcased her talent and became a member of the school choir within minutes, eventually becoming its soloist. From that moment on, music became Emma's life, and she dedicated herself even more to training her voice.
A New Direction
Although Emma dreamed of becoming an opera singer, fate had other plans for her. At the age of 19, she was offered a position as a vocalist in the hard rock band "North Wind," and she accepted it. Emma made the decision to leave her parents' home and moved to Paris, where she continued vocal training while working various jobs, including secretary, fashion model, and switchboard operator. Through her hard work, she managed to save enough money to pay for singing lessons. This period of balancing work and vocal lessons lasted for almost two years, during which Emma dreamt of auditioning at the Paris Opera.
A Fateful Encounter
One evening, a friend introduced Emma to Jean-Patrick Capdevielle, a journalist, photographer, artist, video director, and former rock singer who had gained recognition in France in the 1980s. After talking for hours, Emma and Jean-Patrick discovered their shared love for Verdi, Maria Callas, new age music, and good music in general. Impressed by Emma's vocal talent, Capdevielle offered her the opportunity to release her debut album. Within just two months, the album titled "Carmine Meo" was mixed and recorded, although it took over 18 months to compose and plan the album.
Commercial Success
Released on December 5, 1997, the album immediately became a hit, despite no one foreseeing the immense commercial success of songs written in Latin and 14th-century Italian, languages not commonly used since the time of Dante and Petrarch. The combination of 19th-century classical music with modern rhythms, bass guitar, drums, and an operatic chorus caused a sensation in the music industry. Just 10 months after its release, Emma Shapplin's album climbed to the top of charts worldwide, selling 100,000 copies in 40 countries. In France alone, the album surpassed the 200,000 mark, earning Emma two gold records.
