New York, NY -- New York Metropolitan Opera star Janet Hopkins’ ARIA has been selected by USA Today and the New York Times as a top Holiday gift for 2007.
ARIA is a first-of-its-
ARIA 2005 Cuvee was personally blended by Miss Hopkins at Tulip Hill Winery. Working with celebrated wine maker Ed West to find the ideal balance, it is a rich and sumptuous blend of red varietals. ARIA is a smooth, yet robust red wine sure to please discerning palates.
ARIA the music is a cd of well known Italian love song classics. Recorded by Ms. Hopkins at historic Capitol Records in Hollywood, the music of this cd is as rich as the wine it compliments. Well known standards such as O Sole Mio, Santa Lucia, and Quando Men Vo are but a few of the timeless musical treasures on the cd. Favorites from La Boheme, Turandot, and Madama Butterfly also round out the musical selections.
Ms. Hopkins honors Luciano Pavarotti as she performs Nessun Dorma, the Puccini classic so closely associated with the late tenor.
The music of ARIA features songs that are tales of love, romance and a devotion to homeland, Naples, Italy. Several songs romanticize the joy of being in Naples while others reflect on the sentimentality and longing for being there. Many of the songs of ARIA are traditional pieces sung by males. Ms. Hopkins has uniquely transformed these treasures into the timeless collection that is ARIA.
The ARIA project marks the first time that classical music and fine wine have been teamed together as a special offering, one in which the artist has been so personally involved. A special gift set of ARIA wine and cd will be available just in time for holiday shopping.
“When this project was first proposed to me, it just felt right,” notes Ms. Hopkins. “Blending my own wine and selecting just the right music to compliment it felt like a natural marriage of two halves, finally merging into the final blend that is Aria. The luscious depth of the wine lingers on the palate, as the rich melodies of these timeless classics linger in our hearts. I am thrilled to be a part of the birth of both wine and song. Teaming up with Tulip Hill winery is a luxury. Their wines are world class. Both music and wine are classics.”
“Anyone who enjoys great music and exceptional red wine will be an ARIA fan,” says Kristi Brown, President of Tulip Hill Winery. “We are honored to be a part of Ms. Hopkins ARIA creation. Her voice is one for the ages,” she notes. “Blended red wines are a popular trend for a reason. When a blend is as fabulous as ARIA, wine lovers truly benefit. ARIA the wine broadens the appeal of fine red wine, and ARIA the music pleases an audience who loves truly exceptional talent.”
Bringing classical music to a broader audience has long been a passion of Janet Hopkins. "A big part of the appeal of ARIA has been the opportunity to expose more people to classical music. Combining a fine wine with these classical songs is an excellent vehicle for bringing classical music to a wider group of music lovers," notes The Diva.
The ARIA Gift Box is $59.95. Individual bottles of ARIA wine are $36. ARIA the cd is $21.95. All are available at the Tulip Hill Wine Tasting Rooms in Rancho Mirage, CA and Nice CA. Internet orders can be placed at www.TulipHillWinery.com or by phoning 760.568.5678.
Diva Janet Hopkins is a 16+ year veteran of the New York Metropolitan Opera. She has thrilled audiences on stages around the world in solo performances as well as numerous tours with The Met, all to great critical acclaim. Ms. Hopkins is recognized as one of the most gifted sopranos of the modern age. She divides her time between Southern California and New York. For more information about The Diva, visit www.JanetEHopkins.com
Tulip Hill Winery is an award winning, boutique winery, producing some of California’s finest wines.
