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Elly Roberts reviews
Universal Classics and Jazz (UCJ)
- Cat.no: 9869033
- Released: October 2004
- Rating: 10/10
She’s blonde, blue-eyed, beautiful and very intelligent.
From obscurity to superstardom, its been an incredible year for 24-year-oldWelsh songbird Katherine Jenkins. It comes as no surprise that shes become such a hugesuccess. With 9 A grade GCSEs four A levels, and graduating from the RoyalAcademy of Music with honours, also winning several awards along the way,shes finally realising her destiny.
Now she releases her follow up to debut album Premiere which reachednumber one in the UK classical chart in Aprilthis year. She has become a sensation since signing a 5-album recordingcontract, literally after leaving college. The Neath beauty is out-sellingthe likes of Dame Kiri Ti Kanawa and Lesley Garrett in the classicsdepartment.
With the National Youth Choir of Wales right behind her,shecovers past masters like Verdi, Bizet, Dovrak and more contemporary composersRodgers and Hammerstein, Ennio Morricone – she displays all the mightneeded to stay the course in a cut throat and unpredictable business. Thisis based on the fact that she is able to diversify at the drop of a hat asthe tracklisting shows.
Popular classics such as House Of No Regrets/Chi Mai and Time To SayGoodbye show her fluidity and strength in depth. Tackling anthems normallysung by males such as Pavarotti – O Sole Mio, ittakes on a totally new meaning with her finely tuned arrangements. Hervirtual angelic dulcet tones really kick in on Rodrigos Spanish masterpieceEn Aranjuez Con Tu Amor with chilling effect.Not forgetting her Welsh roots she delivers one of the purest versions ofCalon Lan (Clean Heart) youll ever hear.
Finally, Katherine cleans up with R&Gs Youll Never Walk Alone in amomentous crescendo to a stunning album. A must for real music lovers.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Time To Say Goodbye
2. Caruso
3. Va Pensiero
4. House Of No Regrets
5. O Sole Mio
6. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
7. Pres Des Remparts De Seville
8. Song To The Moon9. Vide Cor Meum
10. Calon Lan
11. Hymn To The Fallen
12. Barcaolle
13. Laudate Dominum
14. O Holy Night
15. Youll Never Walk AloneMore info atKatherine Jenkins.co.ukandUniversal Classics.com
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.