New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ CineMedia Promotions) Sony
Music is proud to announce the digital release of the original motion picture soundtrack of ONE CHANCE, the remarkable life story of singer Paul Potts, with an array of opera favourites that will appeal to a wide range of listeners and a new, previously unreleased song by seven-time Grammy Award-winner Taylor Swift. The Weinstein Company will release the film theatrically in New York and Los Angeles on December 27th, and the CD will be available on January 7, 2014.
From the director of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ONE CHANCE is based on the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being voted as the winner on
Simon Cowell's inaugural 'Britain's Got Talent.' Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win the hearts of millions.
Fresh from celebrating his Tony Award-winning Broadway run in 'One Man, Two Guvnors', BAFTA winner
James Corden (THE HISTORY BOYS) stars as
Paul Potts and is supported by an acclaimed ensemble cast that includes
Julie Walters (MAMMA MIA!, CALENDAR GIRLS, BILLY ELLIOT), Mackenzie Crook (THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN), Colm Meaney (GET HIM TO THE GREEK), Jemima Rooper (KINKY BOOTS) and rising star
Alexandra Roach (THE IRON LADY). Directed by
David Frankel (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, MARLEY & ME, HOPE SPRINGS) and written by Justin Zackham (THE BUCKET LIST), ONE CHANCE is produced by Mike Menchel, Brad Weston, Kris Thykier (KICK-ASS, THE DEBT, I GIVE IT A YEAR),
Simon Cowell, and executive produced by Bob and
Harvey Weinstein.
The end-title track of the film and concluding track on the ONE CHANCE album is a brand-new song written specially for this movie by
Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff (of the band fun.), and recorded by Swift . Swift is world-renowned for putting her emotions into her music, and when approached to contribute to the movie, was instantly touched by its theme. The song and its title, "Sweeter Than Fiction," beautifully sum up the appeal of the
Paul Potts story. Swift attracted global attention recently at the Toronto International Film Festival with a glamorous red-carpet appearance for the movie's premiere. "
Sweeter Than Fiction" will be released as a single on October 22nd.
The soundtrack features some of the most popular opera music of all time, including six new recordings by Paul Potts, and others by
Mario Lanza,
Vittorio Grigolo and Il Divo. The two opening tracks are already known to fans of Potts from the ONE CHANCE album: Nessun Dorma, an aria instantly recognisable to a huge audience, and Nella Fantasia, a highly popular composition by Ennio Morricone, based on a theme from the film The Mission (1986). Potts follows up Nessun Dorma with three more arias of Puccini's, among the most romantic and stirring in the entire opera repertoire: E Lucevan Le Stelle, in which the painter Cavaradossi, awaiting execution, sings of his love for Tosca, and two newly recorded tender songs from La Bohème: aria Che gelida manina and duet O Soave Fanciulla.
The other new recordings by Potts on the soundtrack are Vesti la giubba from the opera I Pagliacci, a heart-wrentching expression of betrayal by the entertainer Canio; two pieces from Verdi's Aida, Celest Aida and Farewell to Earth, the latter sung with Kylie Watt; and Edvard Grieg's song with piano accompaniment Ich Liebe Dich.
Paul Potts is in excellent company on this soundtrack: O Sole Mio, heard in a historic recording by
Mario Lanza, and Arrivederci Roma, sung by the new star Vittorio Grigolo, are two of the best-loved Italian songs. And on a cross-over album that brings opera to a wide audience it is a pleasure but no surprise to find Time to Say Goodbye, here sung by Il Divo. Even more variety is added in the form of two dramatic works by Mozart: the Introitus and Kyrie from his Requiem, and the Allegro con Brio from his 25th Symphony.
Paul Potts' debut album One Chance has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. The original soundtrack of the ONE CHANCE movie also promises to be a big hit. His existing fans and all new fans who see the film have excellent reasons to buy the album, which showcases Paul Potts' talent alongside other big names singing well-loved works, all of this rounded off by a new track by global mega-star Taylor Swift.
About the film
The movie ONE CHANCE premiered to standing ovations and critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. Made by
David Frankel the director of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, it is an inspiring classic "rags-to-riches" story, telling how a man from humble origins became a star of the international music scene. The role of tenor
Paul Potts is played by
James Corden, winner in 2012 of the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (for One Man, Two Guvnors, a hit in London and on Broadway). Corden has a strong supporting cast, including
Julie Walters and Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean).
Tracklisting
1. Nessun Dorma
(Giacomo Puccini: Turandot)
Paul Potts
2. Nella Fantasia
(Ennio Morricone)
Paul Potts
3. Vesti La Giubba*
(Ruggero Leoncavallo: I Pagliacci)
Paul Potts
4. E Lucevan Le Stelle
(Giacomo Puccini: Tosca)
Paul Potts
5. Ich Liebe Dich*
(Edvard Grieg)
Paul Potts
6. Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò)
Il Divo
7. I. Allegro con brio
(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K. 183)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter
8.
Celeste Aida*
(Giuseppe Verdi: Aida)
Paul Potts
9. Farewell to Earth*
(Giuseppe Verdi: Aida)
Paul Potts, Kylie Watt
10. Introitus - Kyrie
(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem, K.626)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks,
Sir Colin Davis
11. Arrivederci Roma
Vittorio Grigolo
12. O Sole Mio
Mario Lanza
13. Che gelida manina*
(Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème)
Paul Potts
14. O Soave Fanciulla*
(Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème)
Paul Potts, Kylie Watt
15. Sweeter Than Fiction*
Taylor Swift
* recorded for the film and not previously released.
