Answers with Katherine Jenkins

Answer 1

Why is 'Home Sweet Home', an important milestone for you?

It's my 10th album in 10 years & for it I have made a return to my classical roots, gone back to the style of my earlier albums & also returned to the label that signed me when I was a 23 year old schoolteacher. So much has happened in this past decade and none of that would have happened without the support from home so I wanted to give a mention to Wales in the album title.

Answer 2

After listening to your album I was amazed at how beautiful and pure your voice is...what kind of voice training have you received?

Thank you! I learned to sing in my local church choir where I was a member for 10 years. I then went on to study singing at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Answer 3

What is your favorite track on the album? Why?

Dreaming of the Days. It's based on a piece of music written by Ludovico Einuadi. I'm a huge fan of his & previously his themes have not been allowed to be used by other people. For this album he kindly allowed me permission to add lyrics to his piece 'I giorni' and make the world's first Einaudi song.

Answer 4

Who are some of your musical influences?

I was always inspired by big female voices. I loved divas like Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Shirley Bassey!

Answer 5

Do you remember the first time that you realized you enjoy singing? Did you start singing at a young age?

I have been singing for as long as I can remember. My mum likes to tell people stories of how I would put on performances for family & visitors at home. My first official public performance was at the age of 4. My mother taught me a song called "Going Down the Garden to Eat Worms" complete with actions/hand gestures... Everyone laughed at me and clapped and I guess the seed was planted!

Answer 6

You have performed many times for a variety of audiences, including for British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. What has been your most memorable performance?

I would definitely say the shows for the military. The very first show I did for them was in Basra. Iraq 2004. It was Christmas Eve, I performed in an empty aircraft hanger to 4,000 soldiers who sat cross legged on the floor. From the stage I could see military aircraft landing in the background. After singing some Christmas carols, I decided to perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and as I got to the chorus, they all started singing along with me. It was a real lump in the throat moment.

Answer 7

For those of us unfamiliar with the genre, what is classical crossover music? How does it compare to opera or classical music?

Classical crossover means well known, popular Classical Music presented in a more modern way. I class myself as a crossover artist because I am classically trained but I want to share the music with a wider audience and sometimes adopt a more commercial way of promoting the music. Sometimes core classical music can seem uptight & intimidating, but with crossover we are trying to break down barriers and share the music with everyone.

Answer 8

Have you always been passionate about classical music?

I was completely unaware of classical music until about the age of 13/14. I learned to sing in church from a young age and when I eventually started having singing lessons, the teacher suggested we learn some classical music as my voice was already being trained in a lyrical way in the choir. I fell in love it with & that was the start of everything. As a result, I have always felt passionately that it's all about how you are introduced to classical music.

Answer 9

You weren't always Britain's fastest selling mezzo-soprano -- you actually started as a schoolteacher! Why did you decide to make the career transition from teaching to music?

Yes, I was a singing teacher! I was very young in my class at The Royal Academy of Music so after my undergraduate degree, I decided to take a couple of years let my voice develop more & to earn the money to return to the postgraduate Opera school. I started teaching and absolutely loved it (in fact, am still in touch with many of my students). A few months into teaching I got offered my recording contract so I continued teaching for a year, whilst I made the album but when things went crazy, I felt I had to stop. I seriously hope to go back to it one day!