Carmine Meo is the debut album from French soprano Emma Shapplin and the album that brought her worldwide attention. According to Shapplin's official site, the album has sold over two million copies and went multi-platinum shortly after it's initial release in 1997.

Although Shapplin was raised speaking French, and sings some of her songs in that language, most of the songs on Carmine Meo were translated from the French in which Capdevielle wrote them, into Latin and old Italian, in which Shapplin sang them. On her second release, Etterna, she decided to perform in baroque (17th century) Italian. She did so because, according to her, "It's a language that sings naturally"; and because this is closer to the modern Italian language she used in some of her first classical singing lessons, while the older Italian "lends itself more to poetry, to dreaming, and to drama too". In particular, she used the spelling "Etterna" for the album and track title because this is the way Dante wrote, rather than the modern Italian "Eterna". She occasionally performs one of her hit songs, La Notte Etterna, in Spanish (as La Noche Eterna). Her single "Discovering Yourself" is in English. Shapplin has cooperated with Greek singer George Dalaras and she visits Greece almost every year for concerts in Athens' ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Here is just one of over the 60+ favorable reviews on Amazon.
This review is for: Carmine Meo (Audio CD)

I heard one song from this cd in a restaurant and spent the next day on a mission to find out what CD it was and to purchase it. Ms Shapplin has put together a collection of songs in different languages that transport the listener to the depths of one's hearts and then to the mystery of one's soul. Her voice is exquisitely pure and the music transports you to worlds one never imagined. I am not an opera fan and yet Emma's music and vocals have awakened a deep appreciation of a classically trained voice. I recommend this CD to anyone who wants to hear a voice that is unparrelled in its purity, accompanied by music that will awaken your soul

Emma Shaplin - Carmine Meo

Tracks
1. "De l'Abîme au Rivage..."

2. "Spente le Stelle"

3. "Vedi, Maria..."

4. "Carmine Meo"

5. "Cuor Senza Sangue"

6. "Favola Breve"

7. "Reprendo Mai Più..."

8. "Ombre Dans le Ciel"

9. "Lucifero, Quel Giorno..."

10. "Ira Di Dio"

11. "Miserere, Venere..."

12. "À la Frontière du Rêve..."

Bonus Tracks
13. "Dolce Veneno"

14. "Fera Ventura"

15. "Discovering Yourself"

16. "Falta Tu Estrella (Spanish version of "Spente le Stelle")"

17. "Cuerpo Sin Alma (Spanish version of "Cuor Senza Sangue")"