Katherine Jenkins To Make "Carmen" Her First Stage Role In Opera

Katherine Jenkins showing baby bump last week at
Wimbledon with husband Andrew Levitas. 

"Mum-to-be Katherine Jenkins has signed up to sing all the arias from Bizet's Carmen at next year's Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Katherine Jenkins will perform her first ever full opera at next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, when she takes on the classic arias of Carmen. The mezzo soprano, who has never sung a full opera in one concert before, will appear at the festival for the first time since 2010. She will be treating the audience at the opening night of the 2016 Eisteddfod to a concert version of Bizet’s Carmen, the tale of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier seduced by the fiery gypsy. The singer said: 'I’m really excited as it something I always wanted to do. I studied Carmen at the Royal Academy of Music before I graduated. It’s special as it was written for a mezzo soprano. I’ve always talked about doing this and it will be the first time fans will be able to hear all the arias in one evening. I do usually include several operatic arias in my concerts but I have never condensed and performed all the arias from a single opera into one concert. It’s something I’m really looking forward to; it’s going to be a special Llangollen evening. It’s always been a dream of mine to perform Carmen. Carmen is such a wonderful character and it’s one of the most popular operas and every aria is special. It’s going to be a wonderful night, something I hope everyone will really look forward to.' Katherine, 34, is now planning on taking a break until the New Year as she, and husband, Andrew Levitas, are expecting their first baby in the autumn. She said: 'I have always said I want

When Sopranos Inspire Young Singers Like Catriona Murray

Brunette Ambition: Catriona Murray is on the rise
(Photo: Snooty Fox Images)

In a new interview, young soprano Catriona Murray talks about those she looks up to:

Who, in the contemporary market, do you look to for inspiration?
I think that Angela Gheorghui is gorgeous and amazing. Barbara Bonney, Felicity Lott, Yvonne Kenny, Lesley Garrett - too many, I think each has inspired me in some way at some stage having listened to their recordings and interpretations of the songs I've been trying to sing myself! Katherine Jenkins is stunning - love her style but she's totally opposite to me... I'm a brunette! Ha!

She also discusses her decision not to take the reality singing competition route; why she loves her gay friends; what her ideal recording would be comprised; thoughts on what would make opera appeal to the mainstream; and what inspired her to pursue opera. [Source] Hear Catriona Murray sing "Vissi, d'arte" after the jump.

More Opera Singers Take The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

In case you missed the first round of opera folks taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, click here. Enjoy the new editions of Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ildar Abdrazakov, Deborah Sasson, and Katherine Jenkins, below by clicking on each photo to watch the video:

Yanni CD Features Fleming, Domingo, Villazón, Yende, And Grigólo

"Yanni's greatest music performed by the world's most extraordinary voices. 'This album is about all the loves in my life! Never losing faith in humanity & our incredible ability to overcome just about anything we are challenged with. Its also about imagination, creativity, love, kindness, compassion, integrity, parents, country, peace, unity & belief & faith in our future. It is all possible. With all my love, Yanni'" [Source] "The haunting instrumental melodies of internationally renowned composer Yanni have garnered him over 40 platinum and gold albums including the double-platinum Tribute album, which sold more than a million albums within six weeks of its release and Live At The Acropolis, which has sold over 5 million copies in North America alone. For his new album, Inspirato, Yanni, in partnership with the legendary Plácido Domingo, has enlisted the talents of some of Opera s biggest stars to give voice to his music. His timeless hits have been transformed by the addition of lyrics, most of them written by Plácido Domingo, Jr." [Source] Click here to purchase a copy of the CD. Listen to an excerpt of Renée Fleming singing "I Genitori" below and find the complete track listing, as well as another audio sample, after the jump:

Is This The Next Sarah Brightman Or Katherine Jenkins?

That's what the judges on Britain's Got Talent seem to think. Watch two performances of Aliki Chrysochou after the jump.

Katherine Jenkins Dropped By Warner Music Entertainment

Welsh "opera singer" and millionairess Katherine Jenkins
will be left to count her money.

"Katherine Jenkins has been dropped from her record label following a slump in sales and a string of 'diva demands'. Executives at her record company are said to have lost patience after the singer requested up to £1,500-a-day be spent on her styling, hair and make-up during promotional and live events, while the label are understood to have lost around £2m on the star. The move comes just five years after the 32-year-old signed the biggest classical recording deal in history. However, sources have said that the singer was left angered at what she sees as a failure to market and promote her properly. The Welsh mezzo-soprano signed a £5.8m three-album contract with Warner Music Entertainment in 2008 in a bid to try and crack the US market and become a global superstar. Her last album, This is Christmas, was released last year, but peaked at number 26 in the UK album charts, while her previous album for the label, Daydream, reached number six." [Source]

An Argument For Why Opera Should Be Elite and For Snobs?

Ms. Jenkins sings for the masses

In an article for The Spectator titled "Let's Hear it For Eliticism" writer Michael Henderson takes a look at the current crop of "opera singers," including Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins, who think that the art form should be for the masses but has been far too long confined to the intellectually elite: "As for Miss Jenkins, has any singer benefited quite so obviously from the technology of the modern recording studio? Unfazed by the absence of any discernible talent, this decorous lightweight has entered the realm of fantasy: one day, apparently, she wants to give the world her Carmen! Imagine if a club cricketer told his team-mates that he intended to open the bowling for England against Australia at Lord’s, and you have some measure of the lady’s self-delusion. Mr Boe and Miss Jenkins may consider themselves to be opera singers who have been snubbed by snobs. In the real world of opera, which, oddly

Mr. Boe amps up the voice

enough, is more interested in the exploration of high talent than media manipulation of pretty boys and girls, they are regarded as no more than end-of-pier crooners. If this bedraggled group ever gathered under a single banner, it would probably read: opera for the masses! But opera was never intended to be a mass activity. You may as well demand ballet for the masses, theatre for the masses, or even jazz for the masses. Some things are more difficult than others, and cutting them into bite-sized chunks for the benefit of the incurious will not make them more digestible. Opera, thank goodness, is the enemy of accessibility. It can only prosper if there is an elite, based on the honing of skills and a capacity for hard work. In that regard it is like top-level sport, the main difference being that fans of Premier League football

Together as judges on "Popstar to Opera Star"

clubs spend far more money following their hobby in the course of a year than most opera-goers spend on theirs. If this is ‘elitism’, let’s hear three hearty cheers." [Source] For a sampling of the sonically enhanced capabilities of the soprano and tenor, check out a performance from the Brit Awards after the jump.

Gethin Jones Helps Design Wedding Ring For Katherine Jenkins

"Gethin Jones helped design Katherine Jenkins' engagement ring. The 33-year-old presenter proposed to the stunning opera singer earlier this year and admits he put a lot of time and effort into what ring to give her. He told BANG Showbiz: 'I don't think people give me enough credit for the ring, I don't think men in general get enough credit for what they go through with the ring.' I helped design it with a really good friend of mine and I'm not creative at all but it was really important to get it right. I looked into Welsh gold, but ultimately it was all about the right stone and once we found that we made the band around it. I like to think that she appreciated that.' Although the couple - who have been dating for over three years - have yet to set a wedding date, they want it to take place in their native Wales. However, Gethin insists Katherine won't be singing at the ceremony. Speaking at the world premiere of 'The Inbetweeners' movie on Tuesday night (16.08.11), he said: 'The wedding is still next year - we haven't set a date, it still feels quite fresh getting engaged as it only happened at the start of the year. We knew we were going into a busy period with work so it's certainly one thing we don't want to rush. Hopefully the wedding will be in Wales - we're from half an hour away from each other back home so we're really keen to make it a big family affair. Do people honestly think that she'll sing at her own wedding. I will be!'" [Source]

You may remember Gethin Jones being featured previously on Opera Fresh in slightly less attire.

Katherine Jenkins Suggests Classical Music May Be a Hard Job

She ought to know: Judge Jenkins

"Opera hopeful Joe McElderry can rest his vocal cords this week – even though he doesn’t want to. The 19-year-old from South Shields is currently taking part in singing contest Popstar to Operastar on ITV1. Joe sailed through last week’s contest when he took on three of the show’s contenders. Sunday will see the four remaining hopefuls sing for their supper. Joe told Twitter fans earlier this week: “Just had vocal coaching. 'I love my new song and it’s a fun one too. I want to sing this weekend but I’m not until weekend after.' Meanwhile, judge and mentor Katherine Jenkins

The favorite to win: Joe

said she thinks Joe has got exactly what it takes to make it in the opera world. The mezzo-soprano believes Joe, who won The X Factor in 2009, would do well in opera with the right coaching. She said: 'I think Joe could be an opera singer if he wanted to be, with training. I think Joe’s got a very good chance. He’s young, he’s really working hard.' Joe is the favourite to win the latest series, which airs on Sunday nights, but Katherine stressed he’ll need to work extra hard to make it. She said: 'To sing classical music is difficult.' [Source]

Well, thank goodness he has a world-famous pedagogist in Rolando Villazón:

Watch the video of Joe's coaching and performance after the jump.

Meet the Future Mr. Katherine Jenkins

"Opera babe" Katherine Jenkins has announced her engagement to television personality Gethin Jones. Mazel tov to the happy couple.  [Source]

Would Opera Benefit From ElBaradei Leadership in Egypt?

Nobel Peace Prize winner ElBaradei arrives at
50th Vienna Opera Ball with wife (Photo: AP)

With political unrest happening in Egypt, the epicenter of anti-Mubarak rhetoric has come from Mohamed ElBaradei. But what connection does he have to opera? As a young man, he traveled to New York City as a junior diplomat and while getting a doctoral degree decided to expand his horizons. He attended baseball games, learned about modern art and got himself a subscription to the opera. Political voices seem to think once Hosni Mubarak is overthrown that ElBaradei will run for office. Certainly this would mean more democracy for the region, but could it also promote the arts? It would certainly be interesting to see what kind of musical treatment Verdi would produce based on the current Egyptian uprising. Did we mention that ElBaradei's wife is named Aida? How very operatic.

What could Katherine Jenkins have to do with all of this? Find out after the jump.

Disciplinarian Katherine Jenkins Doing It With Domingo

How does the soprano keep her voice healthy enough to sing into a microphone? Coaching with the best you say? Juicy details are all after the jump.

Katherine Jenkins at Mahiki Nightclub

(Photo: PacificCoastNews.com)

"Opera singer Katherine Jenkins, in an off the shoulder blue cinched dress, heads to Mahiki nightclub in London. Jenkins left separately from boyfriend Gethin Jones. Katherine Jenkins sizzled in black leather platforms. The opera singer paired the heels with a cobalt blue dress. Katherine cinched her waist with a figure flattering black belt. Her hair was worn in loose waves."