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OKC opera singer Lisa Reagan Love explores ancient chants in duo; Shunia / THE OKLAHOMAN

The Oklahoman's Brandy McDonnell writes.......Best known as an opera singer, Oklahoma City performer  Lisa Reagan Love's latest album boasts a global array of musicians, from German percussionist Cyril Atef on mbira, or African thumb piano, and Russian native on Inna Dudukina on duduk, an Armenian oboe, to American musician Kirsten Agresta Copely on Celtic harp and renowned Moroccan artist Hassan Hakmoun on two instruments - sintir and qarqaba - as well as vocals from his native land.

 

"It definitely, to me, has a world music feel to it just because all of those instruments that are in there coloring everything," Reagan Love said. 

 

"I love being creative. But part of this chant album is that I love doing an offering to the world that might be comforting, to create some solace for their hearts." 

 

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Oklahoma singer Lisa Reagan Love, left, and Pennsylvania singer Suzanne Jackson are the duo Shunia, creating music fusing addictive melodies, ancient chants and polycultural rhythms.
 

A classically trained performer who has shared the stage with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Renee Fleming, Reagan Love joined forces about six years ago with fellow opera singer Suzanne Jackson to form the duo Shunia. Released earlier this year, the duo's self-titled sophomore album fuses Sanskrit chants and cross-cultural rhythms with ancient poetry and Latin prayer.

 

"If both she and I had not been so involved in this in the personal parts of our lives, we probably would have never done it. ... It's a different style of singing," Reagan Love said. 

 

"Like being a really great athlete, you can't sing opera for forever ... and yoga and chanting have always been close to my heart."

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