Katherine Jenkins – Living A Dream

Katherine Jenkins – Living A Dream

Originally released in 2005, Living A Dream is the third studio album from Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, bringing together opera arias, classical favourites, traditional songs, film music and contemporary crossover material. Released on Universal Classics & Jazz, the album showcases Jenkins' characteristic blend of operatic technique and accessible popular repertoire, accompanied primarily by the Prague Symphonia under conductor Anthony Inglis.

The album opens with “L'Amore Sei Tu (I Will Always Love You)”, Jenkins' Italian-language adaptation of Dolly Parton's famous song, before moving through a wide-ranging selection of classical and crossover favourites. “I Vow To Thee My Country,” “One Fine Day (Un Bel Di)” from Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Francesco Sartori's “Canto Della Terra”, and “Music Of The Night” from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera demonstrate the album's mixture of British traditional repertoire, Italian opera and musical theatre.

Opera fans are particularly well served by Jenkins' interpretations of “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini's Turandot, “Ebben? Ne Andrò Lontana” from Catalani's La Wally and “Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix” from Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila. Alongside these established operatic favourites are the cinematic “Cinema Paradiso (Se)” by Ennio Morricone and Jenkins' versions of “Amazing Grace,” “Over The Rainbow” and the Neapolitan standard “Torna A Surriento.”

The album also has a distinctly British character, with “David Of The White Rock,” “All Things Bright And Beautiful” and the wartime favourite “We'll Meet Again” sitting alongside the more overtly operatic material. “Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep” provides one of the album's more reflective moments, while the expanded edition adds “Don't Cry For Me Argentina” and “You Are My Miracle,” the latter featuring tenor Vittorio Grigolo.

Living A Dream was a major commercial success for Jenkins, reaching No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 1 on the UK Classical Albums Chart. It remains a strong example of the mid-2000s classical-crossover sound, appealing to listeners of opera, popera, musical theatre, film music and traditional British vocal repertoire.

Tracklist

1. L'Amore Sei Tu (I Will Always Love You) – 4:21
2. I Vow To Thee My Country – 3:07
3. One Fine Day (Un Bel Di) – 4:15
4. Canto Della Terra – 4:01
5. Music Of The Night – 5:46
6. Nessun Dorma – 2:51
7. Cinema Paradiso (Se) – 3:22
8. Ebben? Ne Andrò Lontana (From "La Wally") – 3:51
9. Amazing Grace – 3:07
10. David Of The White Rock – 2:27
11. All Things Bright And Beautiful – 3:05
12. Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix – 5:46
13. Over The Rainbow – 4:22
14. Torna A Surriento – 3:18
15. Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep – 3:37
16. We'll Meet Again – 3:20

Bonus Tracks

17. Don't Cry For Me Argentina – 6:12
18. You Are My Miracle – 4:13