The recordings of the vocal parts concludes all recording sessions for the 6th HESPERIA album titled CAESAR [ROMA vol. I], a rock-metal opera based on a concept about Julius Caesar. The album will be released once again by Sleaszy Rider Records.
The final sound will be mixed/mastered once again by DPF Studio .
The vocal recording sessions began on the Ides of March (anniversary of Julius Caesar’s death) and ended on April 21 (birth of Rome).
There are many vocal timbres, and voice tracks without the use of fx to change timbre (pitch shifter, octaver, harmonizer, ecc…)
Hesperia’s inclination for unusual recording places (often open spaces) since the 1st album (2003), this time led to choose a place as exceptional as the Arena SFERISTERIO (Macerata, MC, Marche, ITALY).
The voice of the guest tenor singer Christian Bartolacci has been recorded at the ARENA SFERISTERIO, in MACERATA (MC), one of the best place for the Opera in Italy and in the world.
The sumptuous neoclassical structure of the Arena Sferisterio, organized on three levels with the use of a giant tuscanic order (tuscanic was typical of the architecture in Rome and Etruria), has been the perfect frame for a martial, monumental and operatic album like CAESAR is.
Bartolacci’s tenor voice has been recorded catching the natural reverbs of this wonderful and amazing place.
Some photos show the recording session (done with the authorization of “Comune di Macerata, MC”) .
The tenor voice has been used on the track “Aegyptvs (Cleopatra’s theme)” to create the dialog between Caesar and Cleopatra (this one interpreted by the soprano singer Aeretica from the band Amethista).
The album has been structured on 10 tracks, and every track is preceded by a cinematic intro.
In the next studio report the tracks details will be revealed. To create the sound different guitar tunings have been used: E (track 1-2-3-5-10), D (brani 4 e 6), Drop D (brani 7-8-9).
As for the literature references: of course the works of Julius Caesar (De Bello Gallico, De Bello Civili, De Bello Alexandrino, etc.); on the album there are also a quote from Svetonio (from his “De Vita Caesarum”) and two theatrical quotes from William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
There are many LATIN parts on the album, spoken with the archaic inflection, not the scholastic one (i.e. CAESAR will be pronounced Càisar, not Cèsar).
Some of the guests:
M (True Endless/Skoll)
Ant (Frentrum/Orcrist)
The tenor singer Christian Bartolacci (Ibridoma/Scala Mercalli)
The soprano singer Aeretica (Amethista)
Clemente Cattalani (Sleazer/Scala Mercalli), second solist guitar on “The Ides of March” (Iron Maiden cover)
Shelmerdine (DARK AWAKE), some ambient fx
The official tracklist:
1- Ivlia Gens/Svpremvs Dvx
2- Trivmviratvm
3- De Bello Gallico
4- Britannia Capta Erit/Alea Iacta Est*
5- ROMA
6- Aegyptvs (Cleopatra)
7- CAESAR
8- Romana Conspiratio (Brvtvs)
9- Divini Praesagii (Romanorvm Deorvm)
10- Le Idi di Marzo**/ Ivlivs Caesar (Divvs et Mythvs)
*instrumental
**theme from “The Ides of March” (Iron Maiden)
