Alex Staropoli | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Alessandro Staropoli |
Born | Trieste, Italy | 9 January 1970
Origin | Italy |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments | |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | |
Website | www |
Alessandro "Alex" Staropoli (born 9 January 1970) is a keyboard player, composer, leader and co-founder (with Luca Turilli) of the Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. He does the orchestral arrangements in all the band's songs. [3] Following the split with Turilli, Staropoli is Rhapsody of Fire's only remaining founding member.
Staropoli was born in Trieste. As a child he was mainly interested in nature – mountains, forests and lakes. At the age of nine he got his first piano and began to study its basics, [3] [4] and at the age of fourteen he bought his first electric guitar. After meeting Luca, but before the creation of Rhapsody of Fire, he bought a Korg 01/W pro keyboard, a model he still uses. [3]
Alex and Luca met in 1990 during a course in mental techniques (how to have more control of your own mind), and together they started the band Rhapsody (later named as Rhapsody of Fire) in 1993. [3]
Power of the Dragonflame is the fifth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody. It is also the last chapter in the Emerald Sword Saga.
Dawn of Victory is the third studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, released in 2000. Like the previous albums, it centers on the story of Algalord and The Emerald Sword Saga. It was produced and engineered by Sascha Paeth and Miro. It is also the first album to feature drummer Alex Holzwarth.
Legendary Tales is the debut studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody. It was released in 1997 on Limb Music. The album is the beginning of the Emerald Sword Saga.
Symphony of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret is the sixth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, released in 2004. A concept album like all previous albums of the band, it is not a sequel to Symphony of Enchanted Lands but the first chapter of the band's new saga, The Dark Secret Saga, which would conclude with their ninth album From Chaos to Eternity.
Rain of a Thousand Flames is the fourth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, released in 2001. It tells a part of The Emerald Sword Saga, but it is a parallel episode that is not essential to the story, taking place shortly after Dawn of Victory. While the Warrior of Ice is away, Akron uses the newly acquired Emerald Sword to ravage the land. The album was released at a reduced price and is considered a stop gap between the band's main releases.
Symphony of Enchanted Lands is the second studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, released in 1998. It is the second part of the Emerald Sword Saga.
Triumph or Agony is the seventh studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire, released in Europe on 25 September 2006. It is the first album that the band released after their name change.
Rhapsody of Fire is an Italian symphonic power metal band formed by Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli, widely seen as a pioneer of the symphonic power metal subgenre.
Patrice Guers is the former bassist of the Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. He joined the band after Alessandro Lotta left the band and performed with them until 2011, when he departed with guitarist Luca Turilli to found Luca Turilli's Rhapsody. He has also worked with Patrick Rondat, contributing in several albums and live appearances. He started playing bass at the age of fourteen. He has a progressive style of playing bass. Patrice is endorsed by the Vigier Basses company, French manufacturer.
Luca Turilli is an Italian composer, arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist constantly engaged in various musical projects, ranging from trance and electronic music of his first compositions to symphonic metal inspired by the world of soundtracks and also to modern pop and piano compositions of his current productions. He is one of the founders of the symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, later called Rhapsody of Fire, for which he composed and arranged all music with his colleague Alex Staropoli from 1997 until 2011.
The Frozen Tears of Angels is the eighth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on April 30, 2010 via Nuclear Blast. It is the first album to be released after a long hiatus, caused by a legal dispute with the band's previous label, Magic Circle Music. The concept album is the third chapter of The Dark Secret Saga, which began with Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret.
The Cold Embrace of Fear – A Dark Romantic Symphony is the second EP by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It is essentially one long, orchestral song divided into seven acts. The album was recorded at the same time as their previous album The Frozen Tears of Angels and released on 15 October 2010 in Europe.
From Chaos to Eternity is the ninth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on June 17, 2011 via Nuclear Blast. This is the last album to feature long-time guitarist/songwriter Luca Turilli, bassist Patrice Guers, and session guitarist Dominique Leurquin, who all left the band on good terms in August 2011 to found Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, the last album with Christopher Lee as narrator, and the only album with guitarist Tom Hess.
Luca Turilli's Rhapsody was an Italian symphonic power metal band created and led by Luca Turilli after his split from Rhapsody of Fire, also including German, French and Finnish members. The band members referred their style as "Cinematic metal" to underline Luca Turilli's passion for the world of cinema and the soundtracks, yet the main influence of his new artistic proposal.
Ascending to Infinity is the first studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, created by Luca Turilli after his departure from Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on June 22, 2012 via Nuclear Blast.
Dark Wings of Steel is the tenth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on November 22, 2013, in Europe and December 3, 2013, in the United States via AFM Records. Following the various line-up changes since the previous album From Chaos to Eternity in 2011, Dark Wings of Steel is the first album by the band to not feature guitarist and founding member Luca Turilli, the first with guitarist Roberto De Micheli, and the only album with bassist Oliver Holzwarth.
Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus is the second and final studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, created by Luca Turilli after his departure from Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on June 19, 2015, via Nuclear Blast. Turilli considers it as one of the most important albums of his career: Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus was the first ever to be mixed in Dolby Atmos and the music of the same was used by Dolby and Yamaha to promote Dolby Atmos technology worldwide.
Into the Legend is the eleventh studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on 15 January 2016 via AFM Records.
Legendary Years is the second compilation album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It consists of re-recorded songs from The Emerald Sword Saga, a five concept albums-long story started in their first album Legendary Tales in 1997 and concluded in Power of the Dragonflame in 2002.
The Eighth Mountain is the twelfth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on 22 February 2019 via AFM Records.