One of the famous projects of the early nineties was well-known Enigma project. The idea of creation of this group belongs to Michael Cretu, who is composer and at the same time producer of this project and you can find here his Mobile Photo. This idea came to his mind when he worked in Germany and together with his co-producers, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson, Michael realized his plans. But the first Enigma’s creation appeared at their sound-recording studio in Spain, where almost all their next hits were recorded. Michael’s ex-wife, the singer Sandra Cretu, executes the vocals in Enigma’s compositions. This group released seven albums. The success came to the project with their first debut album, “MCMXC A.D” (25 million copies till today). Besides these achievements Enigma recorded 19 singles. Among them «Sadeness (Part I)» became world-famous. Enigma exists as studio project and doesn’t give any concert tours. Today the great deal of their songs is accepted as Love ones.
Enigma’s (from Greek means “mystery”) existence began since the release of their first album “MCMXC A.D.” on December, 1990. Due to the fusion of the Gregorian chorales, hypnotic music with Dancing rhythms, advanced use of samples, memorable video clips, the project Enigma became at once at the centre of the public attention. Cretu conceived this musical project as something mysterious, when nobody must know performers but can listen only to their music and voices.
Their new album appeared on December, 1993, named “The Cross of Changes”. Though this album lost its admirers because of the unrecognizable soundings of the Gregorian melodies and flute tunes, it obtained excellent results and became gold and even platinum in many countries.
In three years Enigma’s next piece of work “Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!” (from French "The King is dead, long live the King!") came into the world. This album was supposed to reveal only best sides of the previous albums and based on already existing sounds and style. But failure! The third album wasn’t such successful as its predecessors. Just two singles from this release were produced.
After three years of preparation “The Screen Behind the Mirror” was produced. As the basis of this album the musical theme from opera “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff was used. The famous singles from this album became “Gravity of Love” and “Push the Limits”.
Cretu’s new work single “Turn around” and two more collections “Love Sensuality Devotion: The Greatest Hits” and “Love Sensuality Devotion: The Remix Collection” finished the first part of the project known as Enigma.
Their next release “Voyageur” changed the common Enigma’s mode. There was no flute, no Gregorian tunes, but only interlacement of music and voice. It was a new step in development of this project.
Enigma’s single “Hello and welcome” which was supposed to be released on October, 2005, was realized only on March 10, 2006. This single was written in the new mode and wasn’t like previous ones.
The following album “A Posteriori” (September 26, 2006), includes mainly techno- and popular electronic music that makes it different from other Enigma’s albums. The main ideas were taken from such sciences as astronomy, physics, history, sociology.
The seventh album “Seven Lives, Many Faces” (September 19, 2008) kept the sounding of two first albums with use of samples and ethnic tunes.
According to the contract of this project with “Virgin Records” Michael Cretu should release in total 8 albums – 1 album every three year. So we are waiting for Enigma’s last creation in 2012.
