Romina Arena

Romina Maria Ciulla alias Romina Arena
Born (1975-05-12) May 12, 1975 (age 49)
OriginPalermo, Sicily
GenresPop, classical crossover, operatic pop
Occupation(s)Singer, composer, writer
Years active2005–present
LabelsDesign House/Toshiba-EMI, CP Productions/BMG, PC Music, Outback Records, NMG Records, Perseverance Records, Lakeshore Records
Websitewww.rominaarena.com

Romina Maria Ciulla (Arena) is an Italian singer-songwriter who performs, pop classical crossover, rock opera and new-age music.[1]

Early life

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Romina Maria Ciulla (alias Arena) was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily, to a Sicilian mother, Rita and a Roman father, Renato. By the age of four, Arena became a Mouseketeer for Topolino, the Italian version of Disney's Mickey Mouse Club.[2] Performing with other children from different parts of Europe,[3][4] Arena calls herself "the voice of women with a broken heart" but is also referred to as "the voice of women who never give up".[5]

Career

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In 2001, Romina maria Ciulla, alias Arena covered the classic Japanese song, "Subaru", originally written and recorded by Shinji Tanimura. In 2003, Microsoft used her first rock opera single "Satellite (Italian version)", recorded in both English and Italian and composed by Romina Arena and David Polish, in the video game Project Gotham Racing 2.[6] In 2013 she covered "I Want Love" (originally from Silent Hill 3, composed by Akira Yamaoka) in the cover album "The Best Of Silent Hill (Music From The Video Game Series)" by Edgar Rothermich[7] released in 2013 on Perseverance Records.

In 2012, she released the album Morricone.Uncovered[8] in which she covers film music by Ennio Morricone to which she had set her own lyrics.

In an article written by journalist Roberto Pugliese, "Arena uses her exquisite operatic (diaphragm and chest) but is sufficiently flexible to expand in Pop and Classical genre (for these singers, the neologism "popera" was coined). “What is striking in the color of Arena’s voice is that even in the high register and sovracuto - a rare use of falsetto - still maintains a serious center of gravity, dark, full-bodied that accentuates her dramatic vocal delivery. In addition to phrasing, incredibly sharp, marked and a mastery of the breath which results also in the expressive essential resource."[9]

In 2015, Romina Maria Ciulla alias Arena signed to Lakeshore Records for a studio album to coincide with her book Where Did They Film That Italy. The album, titled Where Did They Film That Italy – The Music Journey,[10] was released in June 2016 as a companion to the travel guide.

Her song "Every Day Is Christmas Day" appeared in the movie A Christmas To Remember.[11]

She was one of the special guests in Jim Wilson and Friends: A Place in my Heart[12] live at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo, Texas.

Romina Maria Ciulla alias Arena has starred and produced ABC Holiday Movie Skating Spectacular,[13] hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, and World Champion Kimmie Meissner alongside a cast of various Olympic figure skating stars performing on ice to holiday music performed live by Romina and special guests, The Four Phantoms.

Discography

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  • 1984 to 1993 – From the age of 4 to 13 years old Arena was signed to Disney Italy's Mickey Mouse Club and the companies "Prima Ribalta", "Shasa Digital Sound" and released three compilations and singles – Italy. There are no documents that certify this thing
  • 1994 "Una Vita Senza Vita" from San Remo Nuovi Talenti (New Talent) Festival Compilation – Italy (appeared as Romina Notarbartolo) There are not news about this song and even the event management denied this participation.
  • 1994 "You're The Only One" Peter Ciani Music – Australia (Single)
  • 1994: "Smile" released by Danilo Sulis Recordings – Sicily, Italy (Single)
  • 1994 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Germany
  • 1995 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Australia
  • 1998: "Fateci Santi" for The Vatican & Pope John Paul the second, produced & released by Beppe CAntarelli – compilation album
  • 2000 "Unreleased Album Project" produced by Bob Johnston – US
  • 2001 "Subaru" Design House/Toshiba-EMI – Japan
  • 2003 "Romina Arena" for Miller's Gin – Miller Spirits – US & UK (Premium)
  • 2003 "Satellite" Soundtrack from Xbox Video Game Project Gotham Racing 2, Microsoft Game Studios – US/Italy/International
  • 2004 "Romina Arena" American Entertainment Records– US
  • 2006 You're Gonna Hear from Me Outback Records – US
  • 2006 "Cuerpo Sin Alma" (Spanish) Outback Records – US
  • 2008 "Believe" NMG Records (Single)
  • 2009 "A Joyful Christmas" NMG Records
  • 2010 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) – NMG Records
  • 2010 "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" NMG/Macs Records – Italy/US
  • 2011 "A Mother's Prayer" NMG Records (Single)
  • 2011 "Arthur's Theme" (The Best That You Can Do) NMG Records (Single)
  • 2011 "Life" released September 6, 2011 – NMG Records
  • 2012 "Morricone.Uncovered" released September 18, 2012 Perseverance Records
  • 2012 "Un Sogno Che Sognai" "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables released December 4, 2012 Perseverance Records (Single)
  • 2013 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) Re-release with new bonus tracks January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
  • 2013 "Subaru" "スバル" " Romina Sings Japanese" released January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
  • 2013 "I Want Love" from the album "The Best of Silent Hill" released October 29 – Perseverance Records
  • 2014 "Corazon Italiano" released June, NMG Records (Single)
  • 2014 "Annie's Song" released November 4, PoperaStar Records (Single)
  • 2015 "A Mother's Heart" April 28, PoperaStar Records
  • 2016 "Where Did They Film That Italy – The Music Journey" based on the book from the same title – Lakeshore Records released June 24
  • 2019 "Baby Mine" performed in tribute to Disney's Dumbo – Poperastar Records (Single)

Books

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  • Where Did They Film That Italy (travel guide). Fresno: Linden/ Quill Driver Books, 2016. ISBN 9781610351829, OCLC 931295588

Awards

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In 2010, Arena received several awards. She was one of the seven recipients of the Tricolor Globe Award from the organization Italian Women in the World,[14] one of the five recipients of the CSNA Award (Confederation of the Sicilians in North America) for promoting Sicilian culture worldwide,[15]

In 2012, Arena was one of the 20 recipients of the Premio Sicilla for being an "Ambassador of bel canto in the world".[16]

In 2020, Romina Arena received the prestigious “Filming Italy Los Angeles" Spotlight Award presented by Variety Magazine and Filming Italy LA for achievement in the music industry and cinema soundtrack, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Culture and the Italian Embassy of Los Angeles.[17]

In 2021, Romina Arena was named the "Official Ambassador of Italian Excellence In The World" by the President of M.I.R.E. (Movement of Italians Residents Abroad) representing Italy and major Italian cultural events, awards, consumer experiences around the world.[18]

In 2022, the Italian President and Onorevoli at the Camera Dei Deputati awarded Romina the "Patrimonio Italiano" as Italian Ambassador of Italian culture at the Italian Parliament in Rome.[19]

Articles and Interviews

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References

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  1. ^ "Romina Arena, regina del Popera: Con la mia musica parlo di sogni e coraggio". Lavocedi New York. June 29, 2018.
  2. ^ Martone, Eric (2017). Italian Americans: The History and Culture of a People (1st ed.). Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 338. ISBN 978-1610699952.
  3. ^ D'Alessandro, F. Anthony (1 August 2012). A Chat with Romina Arena", Times of Sicily Blog.
  4. ^ Giornale Di Sicilia (29 January 2012). "Romina Arena, la siciliana che ha conquistato l'America".
  5. ^ Pugliese, Roberto (12 February 2013). "Recensione: Morricone Uncovered. ColonneSonore.net
  6. ^ Project Gotham Racing 2 - Credits, 31 March 2020, retrieved 2024-06-17
  7. ^ Edgar Rothermich – The Best Of Silent Hill (Music From The Video Game Series), retrieved 2024-06-17
  8. ^ "Romina Arena And Perseverance Records To Release "Morricone.Uncovered" In September". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  9. ^ "Morricone Uncovered". www.colonnesonore.net. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  10. ^ "Romina-Arena-Where-Did-They-Film-That-Italy-The-Music-Journey". www.discogs.com.
  11. ^ A Christmas to Remember (2015) - IMDb, retrieved 2020-06-11
  12. ^ "Jim Wilson and Friends: A Place in my Heart". IMDb.
  13. ^ "ABC Holiday Movie Skating Spectacular". IMDb.
  14. ^ Il Resto del Carlino (5 July 2010). "Sette 'Oscar' in rosa A Bologna premio alle eccellenze al femminile"
  15. ^ Corriere del Mezzogiorno (11 November 2010). "La storia della Targa Florio a Miami Premiati cinque siculo-americani". Retrieved 3 July 2016 (in Italian).
  16. ^ Ragusa Oggi (1 February 2012). Premio Sicilia 2012 - XIX Edizione
  17. ^ "Filming Italy Los Angeles - Press Release". www.filmingitalylosangeles.it. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  18. ^ "From Cinematica to being an Ambassador of Italian Excellence in the World: the success continues for a great Italian singer. An exclusive interview with Romina Arena". L'Idea Magazine. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  19. ^ "Camera Dei Deputati, Patrimonio Italiano Award, conferenze stampa di Fuscia Fitzgerald Nissoli". Communicazione Inform. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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