Music has a special way to bond people. At a concert, strangers standing next to each other will easily hug in the exaltation of listening to a piece of music they love. Exchanging songs is also a great way for two people with something they like, something positive they have in common.
Why? I believe that music has the gift to create a little bubble of joy and, when we recognize in others the same bubble, the same happiness, we bond with them. People always tend to connect in shared moment of strong emotions – happiness, sadness, even anger when directed to the same target.
Music is a universal path to reach deep into the soul. Humans have gone up (up, not down!) that road for millennia in every culture, from the chanting of tribes to the Dervish Turners, from the church choirs to the rave parties, music is a highway to blissfulness. Gone are the worries, the chattering of this little voice in our heads: when entranced in a piece of music, we stop thinking. In my opinion, it is an alternative form of meditation, one I indulge in daily.
But you already know the power of music, don’t you? I am not breaking any news here. However, are you aware of the parallel between classical and electronic music? Our heartbeats react to both by adjusting to the same cadence. Classical and electronic more often than not share the same tempo! This is why modern tunes can so successfully incorporate classical numbers and come on top in the charts.
So, if electronic dance is the new classical music, it was only a matter of time before a new genre emerged that I would call electronica opera, and modern opera stars rose. I recently met one, Toni Castells, and attended the premiere of his latest Opera, 2045 the year man becomes immortal.
It was breathtaking. The performance lasted an hour without interruption, taking place at St James’s Church on Piccadilly, Wednesday 6th July. 
The hour flew by too fast. Toni combined a live orchestra, two opera singers, a choir and a synthesizer/mixer (or so I think) to create a piece that was so incredibly beautiful and powerful, the emotion in the audience was palpable and noticeable: tears flowed. From the first second, the music captured you with the sweet singing of birds, then developed into an intricate balance of eeriness and intensity, of lightness and depth. Toni Castells has achieved a sublime musical creation that moves you to the core.
I wish I could share with you this experience. Unfortunately, the recordings are not available yet. However, below is a taste of another of Toni Castells’ work which is worth listening to. You can discover more on his website and youtube page.
Now that I have invited you to embark on this musical journey, it is time for me to let you go. May you enjoy the music!
Thank you for reading,
Best, Virginie