Sébastien Izambard

Sébastien Izambard
Background information
Born (1973-03-07) 7 March 1973
Paris, France
Genres Classical crossover; pop music; rock music; romantic music
Occupation(s) Musician, singer, composer, record producer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 2000–present
Labels EMI Music France
(2000–2003)
Columbia Records
(2012–present)
Sony BMG / Syco Music
(2003–present)
Associated acts Il Divo
Website SébastienIzambard.net
IlDivo.com
Sébastien signature.

Sébastien Izambard (born 7 March 1973) is a French musician, singer, composer, and record producer. His vocal range is classified as popular melody or voix populi to a loud, so it has a tenor tessitura phonic.

He has been a member of the classical crossover group Il Divo since 2004, who has sold over 28 million copies worldwide discs.[1] In 2000 he launched the solo titled "Libre" pop album, reaching number No. 1 ranking with the single "Si tu savais"[2] achieving excellent sales ranking in France, Canada and Belgium.[3] Currently, Izambard writes, produces and composes for pop artists of international stature.[4]

He is an active member of the French organization AMTM, Assistance Médicale Toit du Monde and global ambassador for the Sanfilippo Children's Foundation.[5][6]

Biography

Childhood

Sébastien, the only son of Maurice and Marie Izambard, stylist by profession, was born and raised in the 16th arrondissement of Paris or Arrondissement Passy, France.[7] Sebastian's childhood was hard, his parents had divorced and his father left him when he was six. He grew up in a poor single parent household and lived with his mother in a small room of 10m2 on the top floor of a block of apartments in Parisian Dense with her great-grandmother. These years were very difficult. He studied at the Lycée Janson de Sailly in Paris, considered one of the best schools in Europe.[8]

Over the years, his love for music he grew up and he learned to play guitar, piano and singing through self-study. Piano is the first instrument he played as his grandmother Jacqueline, whom he called Mimine, had one and he began composing songs on it at the age of just five years. Piano helped as a therapy as it became his way of self-expression.[9]

As his mother worked, he grew accustomed to solitude and independence. At the age of 12 years he cooked cakes as a gift for her after her workday. He confesses that for him, becoming an adult was more a way to learn to get out of trouble since before their parents got separated, he witnessed violence, drugs and abuse. Due to this psychological impact, he was becoming a cautious, introverted and a repressed child. However, with the help of child specialists he was able to overcome this feeling of repression.[10] At 17, tired of a life of violence and beatings of his mother, he went to live with his grandmother and spent many years without maintaining any relationship with his mother.[9]

Private life

Sébastien got engaged to Australian Renée Murphy on 1 June 2007 and they married 17 August 2008 in France. Renée was a publicist for Sony BMG when she met Sebastien in Australia in 2005, who was on a tour with Il Divo .[11]

A few months before the wedding, on 20 March 2008, Sebastien and Renée became parents of twins, Rose and Luca,[12] who were born in the Royal-des-Champs Port of Paris maternity hospital. On 20 May 2011, the couple's third child Jude was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London.[13]

Solidarity work

Sèbastien is an active member of two charities; with the French organization AMTM (Assistance Médicale Toit du Monde)[14] which helps poor children in Nepal and India where during one of his campaigns to raise funds in September 2008, Seb raffled several of his Armani suits; and the Australian Sanfilippo Children's Foundation organization of which he is global ambassador.[15]

He recorded two videoclips and collaborated in solidarity projects such as the Noël Ensemble, a record in which more than one hundred artists participated in order to raise funds for the fight against AIDS.

Musical career

Soloist

Izambard started his career as a pop musician in France, releasing a solo album called Libre[3] and his song Si Tu Savais was ranked first in French Hit Charts.[3] Besides being a singer, Izambard is also an accomplished music composer, pianist, and guitar player[3] In Paris he has written music for many French artists. In 2001, he performed with Johnny Hallyday as a guest in the Olympia Theater in Paris.[16] His music, greatly influenced by Jeff Buckley, earns him the acknowledgement of French and Canadian audiences.

French singer Florent Pagny is his musical godfather.[17]

Record producer and composer

Sébastien says that composing and writing songs is his passion, writing for the pleasure of writing. Before joining Il Divo wrote and produced songs for other French artists.

In parallel with Il Divo, Izambard continued writing songs with pop stars in the world; as with Australian Darren Hayes, the lead singer of Savage Garden; the star of The Phantom of the Opera Ramin Karimloo; Guy Chambers;[18] and with the lyricist Don Black.[19]

In November 2014, Sébastien led the project to create an album with different Australian artists for raising money. Izambard, with the help of Sony Pictures Entertainment, produced the album titled For Bringing Hope Isla and Jude, which was released on 5 December 2014 with the single written by Kate Bush This Woman's Work, for St. Filippo Foundation.[20][21]

Musical Theatre

Izambard performed in February 2002 in Richard Cocciante's musical "Le Petit Prince", where he played the role of the Business Man. Before being a member of Il Divo he also performed in several theatre plays as part of the group "La Troupe".

He was preparing his second album with Francis Madjouli and Lionel Florence when he became involved with Il Divo.

Duets and Collaborations

Izambard has made many music & duets collaborations with major artists, both alone and with a member of Il Divo

Il Divo

Sébastien Izambard.
Main article: Il Divo

While recording his second solo album after collaborating on Le Petit Prince, Sébastien attended an audition for the musical The Sun King. While waiting, he met Geraldine Larrosa, (Innocence) and her then-partner Carlos Marín, who spoke to him after hearing Sébastien sing in online videos. Carlos said it was worth a try, so Sébastien went to the Bastille in Paris, where the auditions were being held by Sonny Takhar. Hearing Izambard Caruso performed the song while playing the piano himself, relaxed and convinced that he had nothing to lose since he thought would lead nowhere. But Cowell heard him and offered him the job. Sebastien he said to himself: Je Ne Regrette Rien (I have nothing to lose),.[38] accepted and devoted worldwide in the stateless musical quartet Il Divo in December 2003, along with Urs Bühler (Switzerland), David Miller (US) and Carlos Marín (Spain). Izambard is the only member of the group who is not classically trained.

Izambard has said that he has two dreams while being in Il Divo: composing a song for the quartet, and singing songs in French. In fact, Ancora, the second album of the group, contains two songs in French: "Je Crois en toi" (a duet partially in French with Céline Dion) and "Pour Que Tu M'Aimes Encore." "I Believe in You" is an original song for both artists, while Pour Que Tu M'Aimes Encore is Dion's, considered to be her most famous song in French.

Their first album, called Il Divo became a worldwide multiplatinum selling record when released in November 2004, entering Billboard at number 4; it sold five million copies worldwide in less than a year and knocked Robbie Williams from the number one spot. Their second album, Ancora, was released on 7 November 2005 in the United Kingdom. Il Divo's third album Siempre was released on 21 November 2006 in the United States and on 27 November 2006 internationally. Their latest album, The Promise, was released on 10 November 2008 (world) & 18 November 2008 (US), and shot straight to number 1 in the United Kingdom. In 2013 they published A Musical Affair, the album's songs are inspired by famous plays and musicals.

On 9 June 2006, Il Divo performed the 2006 FIFA World Cup official song, "The Time of Our Lives," with R&B singer Toni Braxton live, at half-time, during the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica and again a month later at 9 July closing ceremony.[39][40] The song is available exclusively on the Voices from the FIFA World Cup compilation album and on the European reissue of Braxton's album Libra but not on any Il Divo album. Il Divo have been on several world tours and have received 50 gold and platinum awards. Their last tour in 2014 covered five continents and over 33 countries.

On 12 December 2008, Il Divo performed their new song at the Swedish Idol 2008 finale in the Globen Arena in Stockholm.[41] The Paraguay show was Il Divo's biggest capacity performance to date and took place on 20 December 2011, at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asuncion, for 33,900 people.[42][43]

13 May 2012 Il Divo performed the song Caruso with a staging of riding the rhythm of the song during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II at Windsor for the entire royal family and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.[44]

On 6 September 2012, it was announced that Il Divo would release a Greatest Hits album. The album was produced by Alberto Quintero and featured songs spanning Il Divo's successful eight-year career to date, as well as four new songs including My Heart Will Go On, I Will Always Love You, Can't Help Falling in Love and Alone.[45]

On 19 July 2014, Il Divo performed before a capacity crowd at Edinburgh Castle esplanade where a pop festival took place ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The group performed Amazing Grace.[46]

On 23 March 2015, it was announced that Il Divo was the winner of the 2015 Silver Clef Award, giving them the coveted Classic PPL. The gala award ceremony took place on 3 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel, a five-star hotel in London.

Discography

Singer

Soloist

Studio albums
  1. 2000 – Libre
Single
2000 – Libre; album Libre
2000 – Si tu savais; album Libre
2001 – J'T'en veux; album Libre

Il Divo

Main article: Il Divo discography
Studio albums
  1. 2004 – Il Divo
  2. 2005 – Ancora
  3. 2006 – Siempre
  4. 2008 – The Promise
  5. 2011 – Wicked Game
  6. 2013 – A Musical Affair
  7. 2015 – Amor & Pasión
Seasonal album
  1. 2005 – The Christmas Collection
Albums Collections
  1. 2012 - The Greatest Hits
Live Albums
  1. 2009 – An Evening with Il Divo: Live in Barcelona
  2. 2014 – Live in Japan

Collaborations other albums

  1. 2000 – Nöel Ensemble[47]
  2. 2005 – On ne change pas; Celine Dion (Il Divo)
  3. 2006 – Voices from the FIFA World Cup (Il Divo)
  4. 2006 – Libra; Toni Braxton (Il Divo)
  5. 2014 – Engelbert Calling; Engelbert Humperdick, song "Spanish Eyes".[27] (Il Divo)
  6. 2015 – Los Dúos; Juan Gabriel[48] song "Amor eterno" (Il Divo)

Musical theater

  1. 2002 – Le Petit Prince, (Studio version)
  2. 2002 – Le Petit Prince, (Full version)

Producer

  1. 2014 – Hope – This Woman's Work[49][50][51]

Composer

  1. 2010 – Ramin[52] de Ramin Karimloo
  2. 2011 – Secret Codes and Battleships[53] de Darren Hayes

Videography

Soloist

  1. 2004 – Libre [v. 1]

Musical works

  1. 2002 – Le Petit Prince

Il Divo

Main article: Il Divo Videography
  1. 2004 – Live at Gotham Hall[54][55]
  2. 2005 – Encore[56]
  3. 2005 – Mamá[57]
  4. 2006 – The Yule Log: The Christmas Collection[58]
  5. 2006 – Live At the Greek Theater[59]
  6. 2008 – At the Coliseum
  7. 2009 – An Evening with Il Divo: Live in Barcelona
  8. 2011 – Live in London
  9. 2014 – Live in Japan[60]
  1. 2004 – Regresa a mí [v. 2]
  2. 2005 – Mama [v. 3]
  3. 2006 – Time of our Lives. [v. 4]
  4. 2014 – Le Temps Des Cathédrales [v. 5]
  5. 2014 – Who Wants to Live Forever [v. 6]
  6. 2014 – Aimer [v. 7]
  7. 2014 – Can You Feel the Love Tonight [v. 8]
  8. 2014 – Memory [v. 9]
  9. 2015 - Amor & Pasión -Trailer- [v. 10]
External links of video clips
  1. ↑ Videoclip Libre Video on YouTube
  2. ↑ Videoclip Regresa a Mí. Video on YouTube
  3. ↑ Videoclip Mama. Video on YouTube
  4. ↑ Videoclip The Time of Our Lives Video on YouTube
  5. ↑ Videoclip Le Temps Des Cathédrales.Video on YouTube
  6. ↑ Videoclip Wo Wants To Live Forever.Video on YouTube
  7. ↑ Videoclip Aimer.Video on YouTube
  8. ↑ Videoclip Can You Feel the Love Tonight.Video on YouTube
  9. ↑ Videoclip Memory.Video on YouTube
  10. ↑ Videoclip Amor & pasión -Trailer-.Video on YouTube

References

  1. ↑ "Il Divo crowned Silver Clef winners". 23 March 2015.
  2. ↑ irishexaminer.com, ed. (12 June 2014). "Il Divo: Putting the pop in opera".
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sébasien Izambard, cantante popular en Francia, ahora forma parte de Il Divo". 2014.
  4. ↑ "Il Divo: Poner el pop en la ópera".
  5. ↑ http://radiotoday.com.au/ (ed.). "Hope for Isla and Jude, initated and produced by Sébastien Izambard from Il Divo, will see the Kate Bush classic This Woman's Work released to radio Tuesday. The track includes vocals from Darren Hayes, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Pete Murray, Ella Hooper, Diesel, David Campbell, Alex Lloyd, Christine Anu, Luke Steele, Katy Steele, Casey Donovan, Damien Leith, Marlisa, Nathaniel, The Australian Children's Choir & special guest performance from (Red Hot Chili Peppers) Flea (playing Bass)".
  6. ↑ dailytelegraph.com.au (ed.). "Il Divo singer Sebastian Izambard's fight to save Sanfilippo kids through Hope for Isla and Jude charity song".
  7. ↑ "Abandonado por su padre a los seis años de edad y creció en la pobreza en París: el Divo Sébastien Izambard hace juegos malabares entre la fama y la familia – y quiere el 4 bebé!". 29 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Lycée Janson de Sailly (colegio)".
  9. 1 2 "La estrella nacida en París Il Divo Sebastien Izambard, en la sala de estar de la casa de Londres".
  10. ↑ "Entrevista com Sebastien Izambard e David Miller".
  11. ↑ Adams, Cameron (17 February 2007). "Song in their hearts". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  12. ↑ Official forum|date=2014, thread of Izambard's announcement.
  13. ↑ We risked death to become parents: Il Divo singer Sébastien Izambard and his wife Renee tell of the traumatic births of their children|date=2014
  14. ↑ "Assistance Médicale Toit du MondeE – AMTM". 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sebastien Izambard announced official ambassador Sanfilippo children's Foundation". 2014.
  16. ↑ http://sebastienizambard.tripod.com/
  17. ↑ /www.ildivo.com, ed. (15 November 2011). "Seb recently sat down with The Sunday Telegraph Seven Magazine to discuss the Best French language records. Read a transcription of the article below.".
  18. ↑ ""Me encanta hacer música pop todavía", admite Izambard"".
  19. ↑ www.ildivo.com, ed. (1 October 2015). "Il Divo may have won the Artist of the Decade award at the Classical Brit Awards at the Royal Albert Hall the evening before we meet, but Sebastien Izambard isn't the sort of person who lets such things go to his head.".
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 news.com.au, ed. (23 November 2014). "Artists including Luke Steele, Flea, Darren Hayes, Diesel, Casey Donovan, David Campbell, Marlisa, Damien Leith, Ella Hooper and Pete Murray have recorded a version of the Kate Bush classic This Woman's Work under the name Hope for Isla and Jude.".
  21. ↑ sebastienizambard.net, ed. (8 November 2014). "Sebastien Izambard, signing up to help a Sydney family find a cure for their sick children was an easy choice.".
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 peopleinside.fr (ed.). "IL DIVO : NOUVEAU CLIP POUR L'ALBUM " A MUSICAL AFFAIR " MAINTENANT DISPONIBLE".
  23. ↑ digitalspy.co.uk (ed.). "Il Divo con Barbra Streisand para el nuevo álbum".
  24. ↑ mujer.es (ed.). "Il Divo, actuará el próximo martes 4 de noviembre en el Palacio de los Deportes de Madrid".
  25. ↑ dechismes.com (ed.). "Il Divo cantará el tema de la telenovela Sortilegio". Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  26. ↑ "Nominados a los Premios TvYNovelas 2010".
  27. 1 2 noise11.com (ed.). "The Engelbert Humperdinck 2014 duets album has a new star act. Il Divo have re-recorded Engelbert's classic 'Spanish Eyes' with the legendary singer.".
  28. ↑ amazon.com (ed.). "Engelbert Calling (Deluxe Edition)".
  29. ↑ playbill.com (ed.). "Il Divo – Un asunto Musical , Con Heather Headley".
  30. ↑ .wanadoo.es (ed.). "En 2001 actuó con Johnny Halliday como invitado en su concierto en el teatro Olimpia.".
  31. ↑ "JENIFFER LOPEZ, IL DIVO, MORRISON Y DE VITA SALEN DEL CD DE JUAN GABRIEL".
  32. ↑ walesonline.co.uk (ed.). "Katherine: es un placer trabajar con Il Divo, son estrellas clásicas".
  33. 1 2 3 europapress.es (ed.). "Il Divo canta Broadway con Michael Ball, Barbra Streinsand y Kristin Chenoweth".
  34. ↑ elmundo.es (ed.). "Il Divo acerca Broadway a Madrid.El cuarteto vuelve esta noche a la capital para presentar su sexto disco, 'A musical affair'".
  35. ↑ rpp.com.pe (ed.). "Simon Cowell: 7 artistas que surgieron con el famoso productor".
  36. ↑ londontheatre1.com (ed.). "We Will Rock You star Mazz Murray to join IL DIVO as guest star".
  37. ↑ http://deportes.elpais.com/ (ed.). "Il Divo y Toni Braxton presentarán el himno oficial del Mundial en la inauguración".
  38. ↑ "Il Divo: Poner el pop en la ópera. Entrevista a Sebastien 'Divo' Izambard". 12 January 2014.
  39. ↑ Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ↑ FIONA: DIVO – Mirror.co.uk
  41. ↑ Parkström, Sara (9 December 2008). "Il Divo gästar idolfinalen". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  42. ↑ Branco, Marlene Aponte (21 December 2011). "Polca, guarania y ópera en una cálida noche de festejo patrio". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  43. ↑ Coronel, Jorge (21 December 2011). "Il Divo celebró en concierto el Bicentenario del Paraguay". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  44. ↑ hola.com (ed.). "Windsor celebra el Jubileo de Diamante de forma espectacula".
  45. ↑ "The Greatest Hits – Deluxe Limited Edition | The Official Il Divo Site". Ildivo.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  46. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p023b2l2
  47. ↑ "Sebastien Izambard Noel Ensemble".
  48. ↑ "Los dúo le ha significado muchas felicidades al cantante no sólo por haber vuelto a grabar sus éxitos con nuevos arreglos, sino por haberlos cantado acompañado de grandes figuras de la música contemporánea".
  49. ↑ "Australian Artists Unite Bringing 'Hope For Isla & Jude'".
  50. ↑ "Artists unite bringing Hope for Isla and Jude".
  51. ↑ "Il Divo singer Sebastian Izambard's fight to save Sanfilippo kids through Hope for Isla and Jude charity song".
  52. ↑ "Musica de Sébastien Izambard".
  53. ↑ "Darren Hayes – Secret Codes & Battleships (2011) – Universal AU, EMI Europe".
  54. ↑ dvd-peliculas.com, ed. (December 2004). "Il Divo – Gotham Hall Performance (2005)".
  55. ↑ musicme.com, ed. (December 2004). "Il Divo Live at Gotham Hall 2004".
  56. ↑ www.ildivo.com (ed.). "Encore. Il Divo en el teatro romano de Mérida en España".
  57. ↑ www.ildivo.com (ed.). "Videoclip de Mamá, de Il Divo".
  58. ↑ http://www.ildivo.com/ (ed.). "An Evening with Il Divo: Live in Barcelona".
  59. ↑ www.ildivo.com (ed.). "Il Divo Live at the Greek Theater".
  60. ↑ www.ildivo.com (ed.). "Il Divo anuncia el lanzamiento de 'Live in Japan', n CD con Dvd en edición deluxe".
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