Among the many fusions of rock and classical traditions—ranging from Elvis Costello’s project alongside the Brodsky Quartet and Il Divo’s polished teen-classical-pop to Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s sweeping bombast—the East Village Opera Company drew its primary spark from Malcolm McLaren’s 1984 album Fans, an effort that draped opera in fresh stylistic clothing. Vocalist Tyley Ross and arranger/multi-instrumentalist Peter Kiesewalter launched the group with the same goal in mind. Kiesewalter proposed merging “the pomposity of rock and the pomposity of opera,” yet the pair’s genuine affection for both idioms steered the music away from kitsch or camp, even while allowing room for playfulness. A five-piece rock band was assembled first, after which a string quartet joined the configuration. With Ann Marie Milazzo supplying additional vocals to complete the roster, the ensemble began shaping its stage presentation and laying down early recordings. The independent Canal label issued the debut album La Donna in January 2004, initially pressing just 1,000 copies. Decca subsequently signed the act and brought out its self-titled follow-up in September 2005. After tracking in ten studios worldwide and enlisting sixty-five guest musicians, the band completed Olde School, which appeared in August 2008.
