In Britain, classical musicians united to help raise funds for the people of Haiti. A group of musicians, tenors, baritones, and sopranos, including Julian Lloyd Webber, Aled Jones, Paul Potts, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Only Men Aloud, Rhydian, and Faryl Smith, have assembled to record a charity song for the Disasters Emergency Committee devoted to Haiti earthquake victims. A total of 23 artists, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, sing David Foster’s “The Prayer,” which was originally performed by Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion. The new version was recorded at Metropolis Studios, West London.

The track will be available to download from March 14 with all proceeds going to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Noel Vine, producer of “The Prayer,” and instigator of the classical collaboration, said, “I have to say, that every artist that I’ve worked with on this ‘monumental first’ has had the humility to say ‘for one day, it’s not about me….I am doing this for Haiti.’”

On February 13, in Spain, eleven of the Costa del Sol’s “finest ex-pat singers” also joined forces to sing “The Prayer” in Marbella. This charity version was renamed “The Prayer for Haiti.” This recording, with parts sung in Italian, English, and Spanish, includes “a fantastic eclectic mix of singing styles” and features Rowetta, Tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, Rebecca Tate, Mayte, Daniel Boland, The Unity Gospel Singers, and the popular classical group Tres Divos.

All of the proceeds from sales went to the Ark Christian Fellowship, a part of the Child Care Ministries, which has had a presence in Haiti for over eight years. Organizers plan to build a new school for the children of Haiti, for which they have already raised over 20,000 euros.

For full articles, see http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=606868, http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Faryl-joins-world39s-best-classical.6110191.jp and http://www.euroweeklynews.com/2010030374424/news/costa-del-sol/the-prayer-for-haiti.html