Living a Dream

Katherine Jenkins has established herself as one of the biggest names in classical music

No major event in Europe is complete without an appearance by Katherine Jenkins. She sang at the VE Day celebration in Trafalgar Square last May, and appeared at the Live8 concerts in both Berlin and London. Other highlights of an extraordinary year have included an invitation to Chequers from Cherie Blair to sing on behalf of a breast cancer charity, and a private lunch with the Queen. It seems like barely last week when Katherine Jenkins first burst into the public eye, but already she has established herself as one of the biggest names in classical music with her albums Premiere and Second Nature. This year she delivered the third one, and since Second Nature monopolized the number one spot in the classical charts for almost nine months and won her a Classical Brit award for Album of the Year, expectations were running high. Acting for the first time as co-producer, Katherine was involved in every element of this album from beginning to end – even flying out to Prague to attend the recording of the orchestral parts. The result is Katherine's best album yet, a collection of classic easy listening and showtunes, Welsh songs and famous classical arias, including some usually sung by men, that demonstrates why she has become at once so popular and so successful.

Living A Dream is another evolutionary step for the career of the mezzo-soprano

Opening with an Italian interpretation of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, Living A Dream signifies yet another evolutionary step for the career of the mezzo-soprano from South Wales. The range of songs chosen is wider, and the musical backing is bolder and richer. The Prague Symphonia feature heavily, but the arrangements also take in guitar, keyboards, harp and percussion. But it's in Katherine's interpretation of Nessun Dorma that forms the arresting centerpiece of Living A Dream. She was guided in many of her choices by requests from fans, who were eager to hear One Fine Day from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and the aria Ebben Ne Andro Lontana from Catalani’s opera La Wally (a favorite of her idol, Maria Callas). There’s a Welsh folk song featuring harpist Catrin Finch, a new arrangement of Ennio Morricone’s theme from the movie Cinema Paradiso, and the trusty old standards We’ll Meet Again and Over The Rainbow. There is also the fantastic Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. Featuring great cover tracks such as Amazing Grace and All Things Bright And Beautiful, Katherine has never sounded better!

The singing sensation continues to grow in stature

Katherine Jenkins has the looks and voice of an angel. Born in Wales, she's been on a healthy diet of classical music training since she was a child. She used to sing in her church choir in the town of Neath. Katherine was head chorister at the church by the age of ten. You've seen people on TV or cartoons, or whatever, that can break glass by singing high notes very powerfully? That's not totally fictitious! Katherine actually busted a crystal chandelier with her seismically gorgeous voice in the middle of singing O Holy Night. This was before she turned ten. She was in the National Youth Choir, and absolutely rocked the BBC Choirgirl of the Year contest, taking the award home to Wales twice. 2005 has been an incredible year already for Katherine, the singing sensation who continues to grow in stature. Third album in, and the remarkable ascent of Katherine Jenkins shows no sign of abating. Living A Dream is sure to be among the Christmas season’s top-sellers. Keep an eye out for this girl!