She starts singing at about 19.30.

Thanks, guys, but GAH I can't make the link work - it keeps closing IE down...

Try this link.

Thank you, Sarah!!

The welovekatherinejenkins blog has GOT to be a spoof, it's just so hilarious. The blogger calls themselves 'Miss SENZAtalento' which I guess suggests it's some ironic comment on wannabe singers.

Very amusing though, thanks to Deborah for sharing the link with us - my sides are still aching from laughing so much.

Also, I wholeheartedly agree with Jatzaya that Elin Manahan Thomas is a far more gratifying singer to listen to. I'm a huge fan of hers, and might start a blog in her honour... it won't be half as funny as the KJ blog though.

And EMT is also from my neck of the woods... what a talent hotbed we have here in South West Wales...


denmark77

We do indeed, denmark77!

Of course it's a spoof! Who would think otherwise??? It's very funny. I'm not that keen on EMT though, she's a bit 'straight' for me - nice at first but a little goes a long way.

Yes, I'm embarrassed to admit I was almost taken in by the spoof blog, until I read the bit about the capacity of the Royal Albert Hall being 'only a few hundred...'.


I grant KJ has broad appeal while at the same time being a big hit with a wide age range. Elin's repertoire is at the opposite end of the spectrum in many ways - early music and more obscure works, sometimes.

I guess it's all a matter of taste: some adore KJ, others EMT. I like the intelligence behind Elin's voice, it comes across as beautifully controlled and thoughtful singing. Yes, it's quite 'straight' and that's another appealing aspect in my view.

In my view, both singers play to their individual strengths successfully ... well, at least they both did, up until KJ's Proms in the Park performance...

denmark

I think I got to the bit which said 'tickets for prom in the park are £500 and allocated by ballot' or something. They were advertising them on the tube for about £25.

Taken from her latest interview in the Times:
Ask Katherine Jenkins for her heroes and she’ll reel them off: Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Barbra Streisand, Doris Day, Whitney Houston, Madonna. That’s probably why people often think there’s something slightly fake about Katherine Jenkins. Unusually in the classical world, she sees herself as a star, not a musician. When I ask if she ever writes music, rather than just sing it, she’s baffled. “I never have,” she says.
Er... since when was being able to write music a criterion for being a serious classical singer?

The BBC links have expired so here is a Youtube one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElgfiySQrEk

Val

And now Russell Watson is convinced he's mature enough to star in an opera. Is there no beginning to this man's talents?

Poor Katherine. What a critical lot you are.

Be honest, most women would be overjoyed if they could sing as "badly" as this in the privacy of their bathrooms ... never mind hold it together in front of such an enormous crowd.

There are many who get such pleasure from performances like hers - not good enough for experienced and talented musicians but great to get a mass audience enjoying great music?

I love cooking and hear people rave about meals in restaurants that are so second rate I wouldn't go near - but, again, better they eat is a half decent one than ruin their health in a greasy food bar.

Everything in life is in various shades of colour and appeal.

What I am trying to express is that the comments that KJ is not an opera singer are fair enough. But it is also fair to her to recognise that she works very hard to bring pleasure to very many people.

I would hope that our critical comments would be fair but not so damming, just because we are so much more appreciative of quality. Does that make sense?

What's great is that this topic has made me go and listen to KJ and then to Maria Callas singing Una Voce poco fa. Wow - what a difference, and hoorah for You Tube!

Now I don't claim to know anything at all about opera, but I appreciate it just a little bit more after hearing the two, and will listen more discriminatingly in future!

I think if something like this happens, I am happy

To clarify again from my point of view as the person who started the thread ages ago:

I never said that Katherine Jenkins is a bad singer per se, she has her place, and she does crossover reasonably well. That's her niche, that's what she's good at.
Myleene Klass probably plays the piano better than 98% of the general population - do I therefore think she's an amazing classical pianist? Hmmm...

If KJ and MK encourage people who never had contact with classical music to have a closer look at it, that's great. Sadly, some people think they are serious classical artists, and perceive the snippets and arrangements they offer on their recordings as the real deal. I won't change it, I know

That's a good response Dugazon .
I'm not aware that KJ ever called herself an opera singer - to the contrary; I believe that it was the media that developed that idea.
But at least we have ways of keeping inspiring music in the public domain where every one can enjoy without needing to know about music exams!.

Reminds me of the time I was in my local record shop (when such places still existed). A customer came in and asked if they had Nessun Dorma sung by Russell Watson. "We have," said the assistant, "but I think we can do much better for you than Russell Watson". He produced several opera CDs, including Pavarotti, and the customer eventually left happily clutching a recording by the late, great Jussi Bjorling.

Hoorah for someone sharing their passion in such a non-pretentious way.