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Elly Roberts reviews
Universal Classics & Jazz (UMC)
- Cat.no: 3384572
- Released: October 2005
- Rating: 10/10
Guided by suggestions from her adoring fanbase, the Welsh songbird delivers her third album Living A Dream.
As the title suggests, Katherine Jenkins ishaving a ball right now, but is not one for taking it for granted. Thedown-to earth beauty conquered the classical charts withSecond Nature(La Diva in USA) for an incredible nine months.The in-demand singer has beenflitting around Europe and the States, with appearances at the FA Cup Final,Welsh rugby matches and the summer’s G8 concert. On the music front,Katherine has been very proactive co-producing the album with Nick Patrickwhen it was mastered in New York. As the working title hung in the balanceshe got down to recording the tracks which include show-tunes, Welsh songs,famous classical arias and anthemic standards.
Her perfectionist nature shows at every level as she hits pitch perfectnotes on demanding songs. She’s capable of rising through the registers withtotal ease and effect, without sounding contrived and pretentious.
Opening with a blockbuster, her reworking of Dolly Parton’s classic I Will AlwaysLove You translated into Italian, brings new meaning to the country ballad.Parton has never allowed the song to be sung in a foreign language untilnow. It’s now been made into, possibly, Katherine’s signature tune.Elsewhere, she makes a fist of songs normally the reserve of male singers,like Nessun Dorma debuted at G8, and the emotionally charged Music Of TheNight, where she becomes one of the first female singers to tackle it.
Puccini’s One Fine Day (Madame Butterfly) and Nessun Dorma (Turandot) possesall the hallmarks of a singer on top of her game, genuinely empathising withthe lyrics, as she consolidates her reputation as the fastest sellingfemale opera singer since Maria Callas making her the greatest mezzo-sopranoof her generation. Arrangements are bold and sensitive, as they heavilyfeature the Prague Symphonia. It’s not all strings though; harp, acousticguitar and keyboards throw in a new dimension. As she continues to exploreher crossover appeal, drawing in many fringe classical admirers, we getAmazing Grace, Over The Rainbow and WWII favourite We’ll Meet Again.
Sumptuous collection from a truly world class singer.
Weblinks:Katherine Jenkins.com /Classics and Jazz.co.uk
The full list of tracks on both the CD and DVD are :
1. L’Amore Sei Tu (I Will Always Love You)
2. I Vow To Thee My Country
3. One Fine Day (Un Bel Di)
4. Canto Della Terra
5. Music Of The Night
6. Nessun Dorma
7. Cinema Paradiso (Se)
8. Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana (from La Wally)
9. Amazing Grace
10. David Of The White Rock
11. All Things Bright And Beautiful
12. Mon Coeur S’Ouvre A Ta Voix
13. Over The Rainbow
14. Torna A Surriento
15. Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
16. We’ll Meet Again
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.