ShareKatherine Jenkins performing her An Audience With Katherine Jenkins Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Friday 17th May 2019
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
The Welsh mezzo-soprano, Katherine Jenkins OBE, was at the Royal Concert Hall last night to celebrate the release of her latest album, Guiding Light.
Following a twenty minute slot by the very talented AJ Brown, and an opening instrumental number by the brilliant London Concert Orchestra, led by Jenkins’s long term maestro, Anthony Inglis, she glided onto the stage wearing a stunning scarlet dress.
Immediately at perfect ease with the audience, Homeward Bound was her opener, followed up with O Mia Babbino Caro and as she produced a gift for Inglis which turned out to be a Welsh rugby shirt, it was her easy rapport with him that set the tone for the evening.
A rousing Finlandia was her tribute to Wales before she left the stage in the very capable hands of the orchestra before coming back in a different dress for Symphony No 9 Op.125 (Ode To Joy) and as many of the set list was chosen because they had an emotional connection, a very beautiful and emotional Jealous Of The Angels was dedicated to her father who passed away when she was aged 15, before she finished the first half with a spectacular version of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman.
For the second half there was another two dress changes but the songs that shone the brightest were Xander’s Song, dedicated to her son and a mesmerising L’Amore Sei Tu (I Will Always Love You) sang in Italian.
With her rich voice resounding around the Hall she showcased the purity of her sound which is wholesome and surprisingly powerful, before she finished with Andrea Bocelli’s Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) that had the hushed audience on the feet to express their appreciation.
For the encore she delivered an uplifting We Are The Champions, and last night Jenkins had looked wonderful, and sounded astonishingly good as she did what she does best, simply entertain.
