Katie Melua to release double-CD version of In Winter

Katie Melua

In late 2016, Katie Melua and the Gori Women’s Choir released the now silver certified In Winter, an album (and associated live show), which received universal acclaim from music critics and audiences alike.  That artistic and touring journey resulted in many incredible experiences for them all, and this revised edition of the album, which includes an additional seventeen live recordings, further amplifies their statement of intent.

Recorded at Admiralspalast, Berlin, the second disc of previously unreleased recordings includes live renditions of the entire In Winter album, as well as new arrangements of hits such as ‘Closest Thing To Crazy’, ‘Nine Million Bicycles’ and ‘I Cried For You’ performed with the Gori Women’s Choir.

“I hope, through these live recordings in Berlin, you’ll hear and experience the journey that the choir and I took as though you were right there with us on that winter’s night in Berlin. It was from these treasured recordings that I have selected our proudest moments which appear on the second disc of this updated version of ‘In Winter’.” Katie Melua

Originally released in 2016 In Winter drew some of the finest reviews of Katie’s career with the Sunday Times describing it as “bewitching…ravishing…spellbinding” and the Independent as “exquisite…remarkable.”

“If you are looking for a winter listen, looking for a Christmas album…look no further really… beautiful choral moments….really beautiful Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music

A seasonal winter-themed record on which Katie sings in English, Russian, Ukrainian and Georgian, In Winter was recorded in a DIY studio in the town of Gori in her native Georgia where she was joined by the extraordinary polyphonic voices of Gori Women’s Choir. The album reflects Katie’s dual culture with original works inspired by her childhood in Georgia, as well as new interpretations of traditional carols, choral works and folk songs.

‘All Night Vigil–Nunc Dimittis’ (Rachmaninov) – sung in honour of her grandfather, an escapee from a Siberian labour camp – and the stunningly beautiful Ukrainian ‘The Little Swallow’ sit alongside an intimate cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘River’ and the delicate beauty of the original song ‘Perfect World’. Warming and sparkling, yet haunting and ethereal, this remarkable record was co-produced by Katie with stunning vocal arrangements by Bob Chilcott. Released on October 14th 2016 the album broke into the UK Top 10 Album Chart landing Katie her 7th consecutive top 10 studio album.

Following the release of the album Katie and the Gori Women’s Choir embarked on an extensive European tour. The challenges that Katie had faced in the studio (what she now calls “one hell of an adventure”) were superseded by the complexities of bringing this record to life on stage as she explains:

“I discovered how intricately you have to work to design twenty five voices singing together on stage in different acoustics each night. There were technical challenges as well as the language barrier between the choir and crew, and then how to bring the style of In Winter and that of the songs from my previous albums together into one show. When I first heard the choir sing Bob Chilcott’s arrangement of ‘The Closest Thing To Crazy’ we were rehearsing in the August heat in Gori, Georgia. It sounded both chilling and beautiful, and the tenderness of their voices suggested that they were as grateful to be singing that song with me, as I was with them.”

This special edition of In Winter contains: a bonus disc of live recordings; a greeting card designed by the albums illustrator Niroot Puttapipat; as well as a 28 page booklet containing lyrics and never-before-seen photographs.

Artist’s website: www.katiemelua.com


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