Golden Malakai

• Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948):
• 1 Lloyd Webber: Pie Jesu (From "Requiem") 03:29
• Karl Jenkins (b. 1944):
• 2 Jenkins: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace: Benedictus 04:34
• Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924):
• 3 Puccini: Gianni Schicchi, SC 88: O mio babbino caro (Arr. Langley for Treble and Orchestra) 02:29
• George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759):
• 4 Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: Ombra mai fu 02:45
• Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990):
• 5 Bernstein: West Side Story: Somewhere (Arr. Campbell for Treble and Orchestra) 04:11
• Traditional:
• 6 Traditional: Amazing Grace (Arr. Campbell for Treble and Orchestra) 03:23
• George Frideric Handel:
• 7 Handel: Rinaldo, HWV 7a, Act II: Lascia ch'io pianga 04:10
• Lucio Dalla (b. 1943 - 2012):
• 8 Dalla: Caruso (Arr. Stack & Christie for Treble and Ensemble) 02:29
• Total Runtime 27:30

Info for Golden

The debut album from Malakai, entitled Golden, is a collection of both classical and classic songs, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu, which he performed for his audition on BGT. Simon Cowell responded to his spine-tingling performance by declaring, “There’s only one word for it…GOLDEN!” as he pressed the Golden Buzzer. His audition has since garnered over 55 million views.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of some of the world’s most famous musical scores, who has been very supportive, met Malakai and said: “I love your voice, it’s absolutely fantastic!”. One of Britain’s most celebrated and performed living composers Sir Karl Jenkins (Malakai: “I thought he was really cool!”) offered to especially re-arrange Benedictus from his Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, which has recently celebrated 1000 weeks in the UK Official Classical Albums Chart. This is the first time Sir Karl’s timeless ‘Benedictus’ has been recorded by a treble.

The album also includes his peerless version of Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro, which he sang live in the semi-finals reducing judge Bruno Tonioli to tears, who stated “You’re a gift from God” and “It is incredible to have a boy like you producing this divine sound.” Simon Cowell added “God has given you the most amazing talent” reiterating his sentiments from Malakai’s audition with “This was a golden performance”. Caruso by Lucio Dallo, made famous by Andrea Bocelli, also features on the album, which Malakai sang in the live final. Once again receiving glowing reviews from the judges: “I’m bursting with pride right now” Cowell said, “It was absolutely beautiful from start to finish”, with Alesha Dixon adding “You are such a remarkable young man”. His performance of Handel’s Lascio ch’io pianga, with which he made his stunning Royal Albert Hall solo debut in April this year as part of Classic FM Live in front of an audience of 5,000, is also on the album.

The songs on Malakai’s debut album display his unique gift to perfection: Amazing Grace, which this year celebrates the 250-year anniversary since it was first read aloud on New Year’s Day in 1773, is heard afresh. Ombra mai fu, set to one of Handel’s best-known melodies, otherwise known as Handel’s Largo, demonstrates both the purity and richness of Malakai’s voice. Recorded with the London Mozart Players, the album also features his fellow choristers from Schola Cantorum on half of the tracks.

Malakai Bayoh, treble

Malakai Bayoh
loves singing and is a proud member of the Choir of St George’s Cathedral, Southwark and the Schola Cantorum of The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School.

He is currently appearing in Britain’s Got Talent and was awarded a Golden Buzzer by Simon Cowell following his performance of Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Called ‘the nation’s favourite treble’ by Classic FM, he recently sang in front an audience of 5,000 at the Royal Albert Hall, performing arias by Mozart and Handel to great acclaim.

Malakai started singing at the age of seven with St George’s Cathedral Choir in London, and attends the state school Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in west London, singing with its acclaimed choir Schola Cantorum. Performing with Schola Cantorum has given him the chance to develop his solo as well as his choral skills and to perform in concerts. He made his operatic debut in the Magic Flute at the age of 12. Faith is a huge part of Malakai’s life, alongside his school studies, choir practice, and of course his recent experience on Britain’s Got Talent, he has recently completed his confirmation.

Director of Music at Malakai’s school, Scott Price, who also conducts on Golden says: “Malakai has a unique, wonderfully expressive and flexible voice. He possesses intense musicianship and a real gift for storytelling - it is always a joy to hear him sing and it has been a real pleasure to help him prepare for this recording”.

This album contains no booklet.