Classical Crossover Fills Two Hearts With Love
If you want to make a classical crossover album, marry an opera singer, or if you are the opera singer, marry a singer songwriter. In a unique blend of opera, easy listening, and classical music, Douglas and Seiko Werts combine their love for each other, Jesus and classical music into a full length album, Two Hearts. Music can bring together people, bridge cultures, and dispense beauty in love and truth in unexpected ways. Few artists push the envelope of reinvigorating operatic sounds into a popular music format and then walk openly into the realm of worship music, mostly out of a lack of intimate knowledge for one or the other.
Where love songs could easily bathe in a vat of velveeta, Douglas and Seiko manage to bring a seriousness and weight to their album, Two Hearts. This is a wonderful feat for two people who come from two different sides of a vast ocean. Seiko hail from Hiroshima, Japan. Music has always been a part of her life, having appeared on previous recordings, starting a gospel music choir in Japan, and joining the Kirkland Choral Society after moving to the Seattle area in 2010. Her vocal quality is similar to a lyric mezzo soprano or perhaps a coloratura mezzo, it’s difficult to tell with pop crossover, however she has a beautiful warmth and lovely vibrato that she has good control over and is capable of delivering some beautiful sustained passages. Douglas adds a humble quality to the duets, the intermingling of the two voices in delicate passion for each other and Christ is apparent. Douglas is no stranger to music or ministry, having grown up in western Washington, he has sang in churches, traveled with outreach ministries, played with The Better Way Band, and has written a great deal of original music.
The combination of singer songwriter and opera create a pleasant listening experience. Seiko’s expressively emotive voice executes Douglas’ songs with care and sincerity. Truly their love for each other and for Jesus shine brightly in this album. Two Hearts has some truly standout songs that you will find inspiring, if you have a love for artists like Sara Brightman or Josh Groban. “Gently You Call,” showcases Seiko’s voice beautifully, the accompanying piano is delicate, merging into a wash of a fanfare that builds excellently. Likewise, “In a Song” exemplifies some beautiful harmonizing Seiko with herself. I wish there was more of this, because it’s too brief. “This Is My Father’s World” is a wonderful rendition of the classic hymn, with some of the verses in Japanese. There’s a beautiful sweetness in this old hymn, especially with the Japanese language sung that bridges a gap and unites cultures through the only one that can bind two hearts, and that is Jesus Christ.
Two Hearts is worth your time in listening if you appreciate light opera.
Douglas and Seiko Werts were married in 2014 and live in the greater Seattle area of Washington State.
Douglas and Seiko Werts are part of the Boat Rocker Records family.
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