The Rapsody Overture Explained

The Rapsody Overture
Type:Remix
Artist:Various Artists
Cover:The Rapsody Overture.jpg
Released:1997
Recorded:1997
Genre:Hip hop, classical
Label:Mercury Records
Def Jam Records
Producer:Voelker Brothers

The Rapsody Overture: Hip Hop Meets Classic is a concept album of remixes consisting of hip hop and classical, which combined American rappers with European opera singers. It was released in 1997 by Mercury Records and distributed by Def Jam Recordings.[1]

"Prince Igor" was a #1 hit across Europe in 1998, a duet between American rapper Warren G and Norwegian singer Sissel. Sissel sang an aria from Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor during the chorus, while Warren G rapped.

The Xzibit track "E Lucean Le Stelle" contains a sample from Giacomo Puccini's E Lucevan Le Stelle, though it is misspelled.

1997 Track listing

NameArtist(s)VocalsComposerTime
1"Intro"1:15
2"E Lucean Le Stelle"XzibitGiacomo Puccini (E Lucevan Le Stelle)3:51
3"Dear Mallika"LL Cool JHeike Therjung & Kathy MagestroLéo Delibes (The Flower Duet)4:05
4"E Lucean Le Stelle" (Reprise)Puccini (E Lucevan Le Stelle)1:45
5"Delilah"Reverend Run of Run-DMCGabrielle FiodoreskuSaint-Saëns (Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix)4:00
6"Prince Igor"Warren GSissel KyrkjebøAlexander Borodin (Polovetsian Dances)4:20
7"Belle Nuit"Mother SuperiaHeike Therjung & Kathy MagestroJacques Offenbach (Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour)3:45
8"Präludium"JayChris Weller (Piano)Johann Sebastian Bach (Prelude No.1 in C Major BWV846)2:05
9"Ach So Fromm"JayRobert GionfribboFriedrich von Flotow (M’apparì)4:56
10"Syrinx"RedmanDieter Voelker (Guitar)Claude Debussy (Syrinx)3:34
11"Vissi D'Arte"OnyxKathy MagestroPuccini (Vissi d'arte)4:29
12"Schwanensee"ScootaDieter Voelker (Guitar)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake)3:02
13"Recondita Armonica"Nikki DKim Chung ParkPuccini (Recondita armonia)4:26
14"Nessun Dorma"Mobb DeepKim Chung ParkPuccini (Nessun dorma)3:32

1998 Track listing

New version with different track listing on April 21, 1998

NameArtist(s)VocalsWriter(s)Time
1"Intro"1:15
2"E Lucean Le Stelle"XzibitGiacomo Puccini (E Lucevan Le Stelle)3:51
3"Dear Mallika"LL Cool JHeike Therjung & Kathy MagestroLéo Delibes (The Flower Duet)4:05
4"E Lucean Le Stelle" (Reprise)Puccini (E Lucevan Le Stelle)1:45
5"Grâce"Expression Direkt4:06
6"Dear Mallika (D.O.N.S. Alternative Mix)"LL Cool JHeike Therjung & Kathy MagestroLéo Delibes (The Flower Duet)4:11
7"Prince Igor (Ries Class Jazz Extended)"Warren GSissel KyrkjebøAlexander Borodin (Polovetsian Dances)6:05
8"Prince Igor"Warren GSissel KyrkjebøAlexander Borodin (Polovetsian Dances)4:22
9"Belle Nuit"Mother SuperiaHeike Therjung & Kathy MagestroJacques Offenbach (Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour)3:45
10"Präludium"JayChris Weller (Piano)Johann Sebastian Bach2:05
11"Ach So Fromm"JayRobert GionfribboFriedrich von Flotow (M’apparì)4:56
12"Syrinx"RedmanDieter Voelker (Guitar)Claude Debussy (Syrinx)3:34
13"Vissi D'Arte"OnyxKathy MagestroPuccini (Vissi d'arte)4:29
14"Schwanensee"ScootaDieter Voelker (Guitar)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake)3:02
15"Recondita Armonica"Nikki DKim Chung ParkPuccini (Recondita armonia)4:26
16"Nessun Dorma"Mobb DeepKim Chung ParkPuccini (Nessun dorma)3:32

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rapsody, The – Overture - Hip Hop Meets Classic . Discogs . 12 January 2014.