Katherine Jenkins Living A Dream Now available for the first time in the US KATHERINE JENKINS Living a Dream! Katherine Jenkins' Italian-language version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" ("L'Amore Sei Tu"), first performed live at Nostell Priory... more », West Yorkshire on August 28, 2005, is the first cut on Jenkins' third album Living A Dream. When the album was released in the UK, Katherine held the positions of one, two and three in the classical music chart at the same time along with her first two albums, becoming the only singer to do so. Living A Dream held onto the number one position for nearly a year and reached number four in the pop album charts. Jenkins repeated the success of Second Nature with her Living A Dream album when she won the classical BRIT award for Album of the Year for a second time. She now stands as the first female artist to win two consecutive Classical BRIT Awards. Katherine Jenkins first came to public attention when she sang at Westminster Cathedral honouring Pope John Paul II's silver jubilee in October 2003. In August 2004, she made her first US appearance supporting crossover soprano Hayley Westenra at Joe's Pub in New York City.« less
Now available for the first time in the US KATHERINE JENKINS Living a Dream! Katherine Jenkins' Italian-language version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" ("L'Amore Sei Tu"), first performed live at Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire on August 28, 2005, is the first cut on Jenkins' third album Living A Dream. When the album was released in the UK, Katherine held the positions of one, two and three in the classical music chart at the same time along with her first two albums, becoming the only singer to do so. Living A Dream held onto the number one position for nearly a year and reached number four in the pop album charts. Jenkins repeated the success of Second Nature with her Living A Dream album when she won the classical BRIT award for Album of the Year for a second time. She now stands as the first female artist to win two consecutive Classical BRIT Awards. Katherine Jenkins first came to public attention when she sang at Westminster Cathedral honouring Pope John Paul II's silver jubilee in October 2003. In August 2004, she made her first US appearance supporting crossover soprano Hayley Westenra at Joe's Pub in New York City.
CD Reviews
Taking opera to places other opera singers cannot reach
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 11/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Katherine is an opera singer whose fan base includes many who do not normally listen to opera, or who (like me) listen just occasionally. She can sometimes be seen performing at events dominated by pop and rock acts, with the result that her albums sell in huge quantities (at least in the UK) and outsell many (but not all) of those pop and rock stars.
A look at the track listing on this and Katherine's earlier albums shows that she likes to mix classical pieces with popular songs drawn from a variety of sources. As such, I'm not sure that true opera fans will like Katherine's music (although some might) but those fans can console themselves with the thought that some of the true opera fans of the future may have discovered opera because of Katherine. So my review is mainly directed at fans who (like me) know very little about opera but who might be tempted to give this album a listen. As such, I'll focus on the familiar songs.
Katherine begins by singing an Italian translation of I will always love you, the Dolly Parton song that became an international number one hit for Whitney Houston. As a huge Dolly fan, I was curious to find out how this sounded and it's the reason I decided to buy this album. Of course, Katherine's version is very different from Dolly's or Whitney's versions but I was very impressed.
I vow to thee my country (track 2) can be interpreted as either a patriotic song or a gospel song. To those who are wary of patriotic songs, be reassured that this particular song has no cultural references - whatever your country is, you should be able to relate to this song.
Music of the night (track 5) is an Andrew Lloyd Webber song that Katherine sings superbly.
Nessun Dorma (track 6) became famous in the UK when the BBC used Pavarotti's version as the theme for TV coverage of a major sporting event (the World Cup). Katherine refreshes this fine song, which became a UK #2 hit for Pavarotti following its use as a TV theme.
Amazing grace (track 9) is outstanding - this is my favourite on the album. It's not my absolute favorite rendition of this song but I've heard (and loved) many versions and Katherine would certainly get in my top five.
All things bright and beautiful (track 11) is a song that I became very familiar with at school but had never heard subsequently until I heard it here. Well, it certainly never sounded anything like this good at school.
Over the rainbow (track 13) will forever be associated with Judy Garland but Katherine proves that the song adapts well to an operatic interpretation. Like Amazing grace, this is among the best renditions I've heard of this song.
We'll meet again (track 16) is another inspired choice as Katherine revives the Vera Lynn anthem superbly.
There is a deluxe version of this album that includes two extra tracks and some other stuff. One of the extra tracks is Don't cry for me Argentina. I'd like to hear this but I'm satisfied with the standard edition. You must decide for yourself whether you want to pay the higher price or settle for the standard version. Whichever version you buy, this is a hugely entertaining album if you like this kind of music, even just a little."
A really terrific singer. I loved this album
groomRN | Illinois USA | 11/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is really spectacular. I've read some reviews of Katherine Jenkins that are less than complimentary, and I don't get it. What's not to like? Her voice is truly beautiful, rich and powerful. True, many of the songs on her albums cannot be called operatic, but that makes them no less valuable. I think "popera" is a legitimate style of music, and if it gets more people to appreciate some of the classics, what's wrong with that?
If you enjoy a beautiful soprano voice, like opera or broadway music, and are not confined to a narrow mindset, you'll enjoy this album."
Fantastic Jenkins
Hallvard Hagelia | Norway | 03/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There is just one thing to say about this album:
Katherine Jenkins' voice is fantastic, and onoe of the tracks are better than the first one.
She will have a great future as an artist.
"
Delightful
Mary Templeton | Paris, TX USA | 01/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a beautiful voice! I enjoyed the selection of traditional and contemporary songs, particularly "Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep", which I had not heard sung before."
SIMPLEMENTE FANTASTICA
C. Bellegarrigue | El Salvador | 02/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Una de las mas maravillosas voces que he escuchado en toda mi vida, este es uno de esos albumes que nunca se olvidan y le llegan a uno al fondo del corazon; Katherine le ha dado un nuevo lugar en el mundo a la musica clasica; temas magnificos como el NESSUM DORMA, grandes baladas como OVER THE RAINBOW, ALL THINGS ARE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL o AMAZING GRACE, la tonada clasica italiana TORNA SURRIENTO (una excelente competidora de la version de Elvis Presley "Surrender"), en resumen, una preciosa coleccion de bellas melodias de ayer y hoy en una voz que pareciera venir de los ángeles; imprescindible para todo amante de lo clásico y las melodias romanticas."
