[ ClassicalX ] Katherine Jenkins to release fifth studio album

“I was thinking of calling my new album ‘Release The Diva’” says Katherine Jenkins, struggling in vain to keep a straight face.

Of course it’s called nothing of the sort - it’s called ‘Rejoice’. No one is less of a diva than Katherine Jenkins. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think everyone would love me to become a diva,” she chuckles. “I’d love to come up with something really off the wall for my rider because all I ever ask for when I perform is some water – any old water – and tea-making facilities and some organic chocolate for after the show. None of that stuff about special mineral waters at special temperatures for washing my hair, or rooms filled with lilies of a certain colour and all that.

“But maybe I should start!”

The truth is that Katherine Jenkins doesn’t need to make daft demands or throw tantrums to prove anything to herself or anybody else. She’s proved everything already. And she’s done it with nothing more than her natural talent.

There’s little left to prove for a woman whose special voice, winning personality and captivating smile have won her millions of fans all over the world. And she’s still only 27.

It’s just four years since Katherine was a primary school teacher who got signed to the biggest record deal in classical history. Now, after four best-selling and record-breaking albums of classical tunes, hymns and arias, the former Choirgirl of the Year is starting to tackle her last remaining ambition.

With a set of songs written for her by some of the most successful songwriters and producers in the world – plus a set of stunning portraits by celebrity photographer Rankin - she’s ready to move on up into the kind of territory occupied by the likes of Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand.

“With my first four albums I’ve been trying to make more people aware of classical music, and to realise they know more classical music than they realise,” says Katherine. “It’s a natural progression to do songs written specially for me, with a big pop production. But it will still be very much me, singing songs in my style.”

The idea comes partly from her fans. Katherine has always listened closely to their views, choosing her material from suggestions whenever she meets her fans, from her fan mail, and from ideas posted on message boards. “I have always taken on those ideas with each new album and recently people have been asking me to start recording original songs,” she reveals.

‘Rejoice’ – the fifth album of Katherine’s short but phenomenally successful career – features a mixture of love songs and songs of inspiration. “According to letters I’ve had, many people have found that my albums helped them get through some difficult times in their lives and gave them strength when they have needed it,” she adds. “And I want to continue to do that.”

Most of the songs are written and produced especially for Katherine by writers with a string of hits to their name – Swedish duo Per and David (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake), UK hit maker Steve Mac (Westlife, Toni Braxton), pop idol turned songwriter Gary Barlow (Take That, Blue) and Simon Franglen (Celine Dion, Bee Gees).

The songs explore universal themes of love and loss – and Katherine confesses that they contain a good deal of personal meaning for her. “Over the past year I have experienced a lot of change in my life,” she says. “A year ago I broke up with my boyfriend of a long time and I have found strength in the words of songs like ‘Rejoice’ and ‘How Do You Leave The One You Love’.

Other songs have different reasons to resonate with Katherine – like ‘Secret Love’ from the Doris Day musical movie ‘Calamity Jane’. “I have loved that song since I was little,” she recalls. “I was in the play at school, but I was the second lead, Katie, so I never got to sing it there. My sister and I know every single word of every Doris Day song - we used to go on caravan holidays and we would sing along to her in the car.”

‘Shout In Silence’ is also special, because Gary Barlow sang it to Katherine after telling her how he had written it about friends who split up – only to realise, too late, that they had made a huge mistake. “He invested it with such emotion.”

Other songs on the album include Katherine’s take on another Welsh idol, Dame Shirley Bassey, on the dramatic showstopper ‘I (Who Have Nothing)’, Seal’s pop hit ‘Kiss From A Rose’, ‘Somewhere’ from ‘West Side Story’, ‘Requiem For A Soldier’ (the theme to ‘Band Of Brothers’), ‘Sancta Maria’ (the Latin-lyric adaptation of Cavaliera Rusticana, popularised by Bocelli), and – for her old fans – the evergreen hymn ‘Be Still My Soul’.

And this winter Katherine will finally be able to release her inner diva in her sold-out stage show with Darcey Bussell, where the pair will pay homage to their heroes and heroines. The title of the show? “Viva La Diva!” ;;

Source: OS