PRESENCE are formed in the late ’80s, the group is composed by singer / pianist SOPHYA BACCINI, the multi-instrumentalist ENRICO IGLIO, and guitarist SERGIO CASAMASSIMA. Sophya Baccini, the daughter of a tenor, has consistently worked to improve her vocal technique, integrating with opera.Enrico Iglio , third-generation musician, studied at the Academy of Music percussion, piano, composition and orchestration. Sergio Casamassima is a graduate of Los Angeles Guitar Institute of Technology.
“The shadowing”, in limited vinyl edition is the debut album, a concept of four songs released in 1990. The band join Sergio Quagliarella (drums) and Emiliano de Luca (bass) and is published in the January 1992 “Makumba”, a full-length album. The CD is accompanied by a video of the song “Left Hand Cross”. In 1994, PRESENCE begin to works with the Black Widow Record, and released “The sleeper awakes”, a second concept album, sung in English, French, German and Latin. Collaborated in the recording Symphony Orchestra string section of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1996 PRESENCE, returned as a trio, produces their fourth album, “Black opera”, which includes seven original songs plus one suite dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi, with four romances drawn from the “Il Trovatore” , “Rigoletto”, “La forza del destino”and” La Traviata. ” ‘Black opera’ is also released in Japan.
In 1998, the Black Widow Record public a tribute to horror movies, “E tu vivrai nel terrore”, where PRESENCE participate with a song inspired by the movie “The Exorcist,” by William Friedkin. The cover is designed by Hans Ruedi Giger.
In 2000, the Black Widow record,publishes an anthology titled “Black Widow King of the withces”, dedicated to the British band of the ’70s. PRESENCE contribute with the arrangement of the song “Attack of the Demon”. The band received a personal letter of commendation from the author, Clive Jones. In March 2001, the fifth ‘Gold’ album on CD and vinyl. In the tradition of the band, Gold is a concept album based on the novel by Virginia Stait of 1932, “Planet of the witches”. In 2003 PRESENCE participate in a new tribute of Black Widow Record dedicated to science fiction movie, “Not of this earth” .The group here running the unreleased track ‘Contact’, based on the book by Carl Sagan, then brought to the big screen by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster.
In 2004 was released on double CD and vinyl ‘The sleeper awakes + live’, mastered reissue of the ’94, plus a live cd work, with excerpts from various concerts of the band. In March 2001, the fifth ‘Gold’ album on CD and vinyl. In the tradition of bands, Gold is a concept album based on the story by Virginia Stait of 1932, “Planet of the witches”. In 2003 PRESENCE participate in a new tribute of Black Widow dedicated to science fiction movie, “Not of this earth” .The group here running the unreleased track “Contact,” based on the book by Carl Sagan, then brought to the big screen by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster.
In 2004 was released on double CD and vinyl ‘The sleeper awakes + live’, mastered reissue of the ’94, plus a live cd work, with excerpts from various concerts of the band. In 2008 PRESENCE released the album “Evil rose”, which contains, in addition to seven original songs, the cover of “The Prophet’s Song” written by Brian May of Queen and “Gates of Babylon” by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio of Rainbow. In 2016 the band released the double CD ‘ Masters and Following’ that contains ten new songs, three covers, ‘The house on the hill’ (Audience), Freewheel Burning (Judas Priest) and ‘This town ain’t big enough for the Both of us’ (Sparks), seven live tracks and an orchestral suite of some passages of the discography of PRESENCE.
“Masters and Following” – The New Album
Masters and Following is essentially a ‘political’ disc facing the drift and total lack of current company goals, observed from a cultural point of view, religious and scientific … the taking of human consciousness of absolute ignorance and helplessness of developed societies … the cover gate glimpse of the ancient splendor of the villa (art) now dilapidated and essentially useless … if you have the key to enter,, if not you or turn back or tries to tailgate at the risk of make you very ill …
TRACK-LIST
CD 1
MASTERS AND FOLLOWING
DELIVER
NOW
INTERLUDE
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL (Audience cover song)
FREEWEHEEL BURNING (Judas Priest cover song)
SPACE SHIP GHOST
THIS TOWN AIN’T BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BOTH OF US (Sparks cover song)
PRELUDE
SYMMETRY
COLLISION COURSE
ON THE EASTERN SIDE
THE REVEALING
CD 2 (LIVE)
SCARLET
THE SLEEPER AWAKES
LIGHTENING
THE DARK
EYEMASTER
JUST BEFORE THE RAIN
THE BLEEDING
UN DI’ QUANDO LE VENERI
Orchestral:
OVERTURE
HELLISH
J’ACCUSE
MAKUMBA
SUPERSTICIOUS
THE KING COULD DIE ISSUELESS
Sophya Baccini: Vocals
Enrico Iglio: Keyboards, percussions
Sergio Casamassima: Guitars
Guests:
Sergio Quagliarella: Drums
Mino Berlano: Bass
