About the Album'Onward', offers a rousing collection of uplifting songs. "I wanted to create a musical experience that the listener would be inspired by. I feel the arias we've chosen are all anthems in their own right and reflect a true spirit," explains Alfie. The album was recorded with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Owen Edwards. Alfie continues, "The whole creative process has been amazing. Being able to perform works by John Rutter and Karl Jenkins, two of Britain's finest composers, is an honour in itself, but to have them writing arrangements for 'Onward' is just beyond my wildest dreams. Their styles are so different but what they produce is equally magical." The incomparable Howard Goodall, who recently won an award for his fascinating Channel 4 documentary, 'Howard Goodall's 20th Century Greats' and most recently appointed as 'ambassador' for singing in England, has also put a special arrangement together for Alfie's recording of 'The Lord Is My Shepherd'. The album has been produced by Stephen Johns and Simon Rhodes. Special arrangements have also come courtesy of Chris Elliott (Baz Luhrmann's film 'Moulin Rouge', Josh Groban, David Gray), Nick Ingham ('Shakespeare In Love', 'The Passion', 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', Radiohead, Oasis and Sinead O'Connor) and Craig Leon (production and arrangements for Joshua Bell and Andreas Scholl). The album title, 'Onward', holds a special importance for Alfie. Proud of his Lancashire roots 'onward' is the motto for Fleetwood, his hometown. "There are obviously sentimental reasons for using the title, but it's also a word that perfectly describes my approach to life. It suggests movement, moving to the next stage, always striving to do your best," explains Alfie with a smile. |
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