I have listened to Yanni’s music since I first heard the strains of Butterfly Dance playing on an obscure radio station in western MA back in 1987. Though I cannot play any musical instrument whatsoever, I cannot read a chord of music and I even have trouble dancing to the right beat, Yanni’s music has always "spoken" to me and I know I "hear" what is being said.

When the Voices project was revealed on yanni.com and bits and pieces of video were being shared I turned most of it off. When the PBS show aired back in December I honestly tried a couple of times to watch it. I turned it off. I adamantly did not want lyrics being added to any of this. I did not care how talented these singers were being touted as, I didn’t care that Yanni was excited about it. I wasn’t.

I’ve listened a long time. Have I loved everything? No. Even liked everything? Absolutely not. And most of what didn’t connect with me was when any type of vocalization was introduced. I wasn’t going. I was sitting this one out.

I had toyed about going to the show in Manchester, NH- but why would I drive 3 hours for a show I wasn’t interested in? I was going to go to the Agganis Arena in Boston with 4th row center seats still available. Couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not till the day I found great seats that had been previously unavailable at the MGM Grand in CT. Plus, I could make a fun weekend out of it. I came up with the rationale to myself that I was just going to a show with four great singers and that Yanni "just happened to play the piano for them" I figured that was an added bonus.

Yanni has repeatedly said "Expect the Unexpected" Nothing could be more truthful . The unexpected for me was that I loved it. Everything about it. The lighting, the staging , the size of the orchestra and.... the Voices. I’ve always wanted my Yanni music "pure". I’ve wanted the "clarity" to be there. And it still is.

Sitting in that theater Sunday night, taking it all in, allowing my heart, my soul and my being to be spoken to- brought me peace. Again.

I enjoyed Nathan and Ender most - simply because of their arrangements in Italian and Spanish. By my not understanding the language they just became another instrument. A new layer. A part of the composition that Yanni has woven. I don’t want or need the translation. I can feel it, I can connect with it- and the music still "speaks" to me.
Believe me when I say, Yanni’s songs- our old familiar, old friend songs -the ones we all have known and loved - they’re still here. But...these new arrangements, these new "instruments". have the feeling of a rebirth. Nothing harmful in that.

When barriers are up -against people or in this case music- we miss so much. Allow yourself to be open, allow yourself to hear and most importantly - allow yourself to receive. I’m glad I did.

I'm so glad you went and saw it Live. The PBS specials just can't compare to seeing it in person. Nathan's voice just goes right through you! It brought the lady next to me to tears.
I brought my husband to that same show at Foxwoods. He went not expecting to like the vocals (like you) but was pleasantly surprised to find that he did! As Yanni says..."Expect the Unexpected!"