Everyone got a little distracted because of Sanremo and few noticed that today the new album by Mina has already been released, a day early. It’s not one of those albums with new songs written by the old and new gurus of pop music, who honestly have said almost nothing for at least fifteen years, but one of those tributes to the music of the past, which still enhance and allow us to enjoy the vocal talents of the tigress of Cremona.

The album is a tribute to classical music, particularly to the melodrama of the 19th and 20th centuries, as is also evident from the cover, which symbolically bears the word "MELOMINA" written dozens of times, plus something from a more distant past. The most featured composer is a certain Puccini Giacomo, with Mina singing a beautiful "Mi chiamano Mimì" and the "Nessun Dorma" already previewed at Sanremo. The album also includes an excerpt from "Porgy and Bess" by Gershwin and a piece from "West Side Story" by Bernstein. There are some non-operatic diversions with Piazzolla's Oblivion and an Adagio by Albinoni with lyrics. It all ends with "Sono andati," a Puccinian aria from La Bohème, which of course echoes "Mi chiamano Mimì" from the beginning, closing the circle.

The orchestra is conducted, as always, by Maestro Ferro, who also took care of the arrangements, very Gershwin-like as usual. Ferro's arrangements always know how to highlight Mina's voice, infinitely modulating on her long notes. Mina, who is underappreciated in the little songs of the various "Bau" and "Bula Bula," here, as already in "L'allieva," displays all her colors and strength.

Tracklist

01   Mi chiamano Mimì (06:37)

02   Ideale (04:00)

03   I Have a Love (03:38)

04   Caro mio ben (02:34)

05   Oblivion (Una sombra más) (04:42)

06   Mi parlavi adagio (03:49)

07   Manon (Preludio al terzo atto di "Manon Lescaut") (03:49)

08   Bess, You Is My Woman Now / I Loves You, Porgy (05:15)

09   È la solita storia… (03:46)

10   Nessun dorma (03:32)

11   E lucevan le stelle (02:46)

12   Sono andati? / Cielito lindo (11:47)

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