Album review : NIKOLO KOTZEV – Nostradamus, The Rock Opera – studio album version and Live In Sofia version

Frontiers [Release date : 19.07.24]

Writing and producing Nostradamus, the Rock Opera, was a hugely ambitious undertaking and took its architect, Nikolo (Brazen Abbot) Kotzev, 3 years to complete.

Released in 2001, it sold 50,000 worldwide. A significant achievement for niche musical art.

As the title tells us, it is based on the life of Frenchman Michel De Nostradamus, a 16th century medical scientist, family man and later best known for his prophecies, catching the attention of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, King and Queen of France.

As with all operas, it has multiple moving parts, not least the vocalists. Glenn Hughes, Thomas Vikstrom, Goran Edman, Joe Lynn Turner and others were used by Kotzev on his band’s albums, and this experience laid the foundation for his Opera.
Sass Jordan, Jorn Lande and Alannah Myles were added to this already impressive list.
The Sofia Symphony Orchestra played an important role too, as did old colleagues from Europe’s rhythm section.

As advertised, the music is operatic, and as a drama set to music, the man’s life and times could not be a better theatrical fit.

In 100 minutes of music, there are many highpoints. Glenn Hughes digs deep into his emotional range on ‘Pieces of a Dream’.
Joe Lynn Turner’s version of ‘Henriette’, Nostradamus’s love song to his wife, is genuinely moving.
JLT and Jorn Lande handle the hooky, orchestral ‘Inquisition’ with care, and the soundtrack peaks with the magnificent Goran Edman singing ‘Desecration’.

The second CD continues the story in the violent aftermath of The Reformation in Europe.
As you might expect, the songs are much darker.

Darker, yes, larger than life too of course, more than the sum of its parts. This is theatre, telling a story theatrically.

Picking two songs almost at random, ‘Chosen Man’ and ‘I’ll Remember You’ are great examples of how the songs support and intensify the story, creating greater emotional impact. That’s their job (a gospel choir helps, too).

‘Nostradamus’ hit the stage of the Sofia State Opera House in 2017, with an entirely different cast, mainly the cream of Bulgarian music, plus well known Swedish Rock vocalists, Bjorn (Baltimoore) Lodin and Thomas Vikstrom, with scenic designers, costume designers, choreographers, a ballet troupe, and Shakespearian actor Ben (Chariots Of Fire) Cross as the Narrator.

It was a 120 minute performance from a team of 120 people … actors, musicians, technicians and so on. A neat coincidence of numbers.

Universal acclaim led to 3 more showings in Bulgaria later that same year. ****

Review By Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: SUNDAY 26 MAY

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 28 July 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 30July 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 19 August 2024

BRAVE RIVAL Bad Choices (indie)
SEVEN BLOOD House Home (indie)
DEFENCES Silence & The Sound (Long Branch Records)
JULIET’S NOT DEAD Thrillseekers (indie)
THEM GUNS Acid Plane (TLG|ZOID / Virgin Music Group)
FURY WEEKEND Feel The Beat (FiXT)

Featured Albums w/c 19 April; 2024

09:00-12:00 HYDRA ReHydration *Pride & Joy Music)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)