It’s been just a few days since Jonathan Antoine released the video to his stunning rendition of the hymn “Amazing Grace,” but 14k+ viewers are a good indication that it’s about to go viral.
It’s a song nearly everyone has heard, but we guarantee that the sound and spectacle of Antoine’s version will give you a whole new appreciation of it.
The young tenor
If you live in the UK, you’ve likely heard Antoine’s name. He made it to the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 and then performed all over Europe. His first album, Together, was released when he was just 17 years old!
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His second album, Believe, was “a mix of classic arias, musical theatre songs and contemporary classics,” according to his website.
He’s still just 25 years old.
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‘Tis the season
“Amazing Grace (Grazia)” appears on Antoine’s brand new, first-ever Christmas album, which was released on December 4th, 2020.
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In a press release for the album, he explained his approach: On the song, Jonathan says:
“If you live in the western world, the words for this song either have or will cross your lips at some point in your life. It is that unity that I wish for you to think of when you listen to this song; the idea that although the millions of others who have sung and heard this song in their millions of contexts may be so very different to your own and yourself, we can all share these brief moments of calm in the storm of living. Let others around you be the Grace that guides you. In the face of adversity, don’t struggle alone. Reach out.”
Quite a production
According to BroadwayWorld, the album took some serious cooperation to complete:
“Produced by Grammy award winning Gregg Field remotely from LA and featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, New Zealand’s Choristers of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul and the Tudor Choir, ChristmasLand was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios across three time zones – the choirs recording from New Zealand. It includes a magnificent selection of universally beloved Christmas classics, promising to be a firm family favourite during the festive season for years to come.”
Then there’s the video. Hauntingly beautiful, it plays on light and darkness and stars just Antoine and dancer Naomi Weijand.
She is lit by just one window out of sight, and he by dozens of candles.
Commenters went wild for it.
“OMG! What a exquisitely beautiful video! Uniting Jonathan’s magnificent and powerful voice with the beauty of the dancer, brings full measure the message of the song, that in God’s Love there is hope, joy, and peace of heart,” gushed a viewer.
The list of staff mentioned in the caption shows just how much effort went into the video – from costume design to drone operators.
Be the result is something truly beautiful to behold.
One viewer summed it up perfectly:
“I have goosebumps Jonathan you literally have me crying you never cease to amaze and move me beyond words when you sing you truly have a voice that comes once in a lifetime.”
Be sure to scroll down below to hear and see the powerful piece of art for yourself.
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