Second Nature - Katherine Jenkins Album Review

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Album Review

She's blonde, blue - eyed, beautiful and very intelligent. From obscurity to superstardom, it's been an incredible year for 24 year old Welsh songbird Katherine Jenkins. It comes as no surprise that she's become such a huge success. With 9 A grade GCSE's four A levels, and graduating from the Royal Academy of Music with honours, also winning several awards along the way, she's finally realising her destiny. Now she releases her follow up to debut album Premiere which reached number one in the UK classical chart in April this year. She has become a sensation since signing a 5 album recording contract, literally after leaving college.The Neath beauty is out-selling the likes of Dame Kiri Ti Kanawa and Lesley Garrett in the classics department. With the National Youth Choir of Wales right behind her,she covers past masters like Verdi,Bizet,Dovrak and more contemporary composers -Rodgers and Hammerstein, Ennio Morricone - she displays all the might needed to stay the course in a cut throat and unpredictable business. This is based on the fact that she is able to diversify at the drop of a hat as the tracklisting shows. Popular classics such as House Of No Regrets/ Chi Mai and Time To Say Goodbye show her fluidity and strength in depth. Tackling anthems normally sung by males such as Pavarotti - O Sole Mio, it takes on a totally new meaning with her finely tuned arrangements. Her virtual angelic dulcet tones really kick in on Rodrigo's Spanish masterpiece En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor with chilling effect. Not forgetting her Welsh roots she delivers one of the purest versions of Calon Lan ( Clean Heart ) you'll ever hear. Finally, Katherine cleans up with R&G's You'll Never Walk Alone in a momentous crescendo to a stunning album. A must for real music lovers.

Elly Roberts