Product Description

Third album inside eighteen months from new classical crossover sensation Jenkins follows 2004's 'Second Nature'. Acting for the first time as co-producer, here she tackles a similar mix of fare as before. There are opera arias, including some usually sung by men; classic easy listening and show tunes; Welsh folk and a "classicized" version of Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You', translated into Italian. This special edition also features two bonus tracks.

Track Listing

1. Ti Amero Per Sempre (I Will Always Love You)
2. I Vow To Thee My Country
3. One Fine Day (Un Bel Di)
4. Canto Della Terra
5. Music Of The Night
6. Nessun dorma
7. Cinema Paradiso (Se)
8. Ebben? Ne andro lontana
9. Amazing Grace
10. David Of The White Rock
11. All Things Bright And Beautiful
12. Mon Coeur s'ouvre A Ta voix
13. Over The Rainbow
14. Torna A Surriento
15. Don't Stand At My Grave And Weep
16. We'll Meet Again
17. Don't Cry For Me, Argentina (Bonus Track)
18. Miracolo (Bonus Track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6538 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Single, Limited Edition

Customer Reviews

Love her!
I am not an opera buff, but you just have to listen to this album. Katherine Jenkins is one of the few who can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! A real must for all, everyone should have at least one of her albums!

Sounds good, looks great

Living a Dream is the third CD release by Katherine Jenkins, sharing the same chart success as its predecessors by reaching No.1 in the UK Classical Music charts and No 4 in the UK Album chart in 2005. It was also awarded Album of the Year at the Classical BRIT Awards in 2006, repeating the success of her previous album Second Nature which won the same award the previous year.

Firstly, I was pleased with the much-improved image which the singer has adopted for this album's cover and sleeve artwork. A new photo and design team has given her a much needed glamour boost to something approaching an opera Diva.

It's also good to see a bit more content, with a playing time of just over 60 minutes it's better value than the two previous releases of 45 and 53 minutes duration.

Choice of songs however I have mixed opinions about, for while some songs work others fall flat and to me sound incompatible with the singers style.

The opening track `I will Always Love You' is translated into Italian, with no lyrics shown on the sleeve booklet, and as a consequence loses much of the impact of the original 1973 Dolly Parton version, and when compared to the hugely successful 1992 Whitney Houston version I think it fares even worse. Katherine Jenkins sings it with technically perfect voice control, while Whitney belts it out with emotion, and wins hands down I think.

To the opposite extreme though is the beautifully sung `I Vow To Thee My Country', with an almost ethereal orchestral backing and choir. This is perfect Katherine Jenkins material.

`Nessun Dorma' from Puccini's opera Turandot is an interesting soprano rendition of the now-famous Three Tenors one, but I don't think it comes close to that of Sarah Brightman's on her 1998 album `Eden'.

`All Things Bright and Beautiful', `Amazing Grace' and `Over the Rainbow' will be popular with those wanting some relaxing listening, and although these are brilliantly sung, I'd rather hear them on Songs of Praise on a Sunday afternoon.

Generally though the songs are a well chosen section of classical, opera and traditional pieces with interesting inclusions such as Andrew Lloyd Webbers `Music of the Night' thrown in.

The album closes suitably with `We'll Meet Again', which Katherine Jenkins has adopted, from Dame Vera Lynn, her `Forces Sweetheart' trademark song dedicating it to the Soldiers in Iraq. I've seen her sing it to great effect live, where it's guaranteed to get some of the older generation reaching for their handkerchiefs.

This is the limited edition version of Living a Dream, which has two bonus tracks 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' and 'Miracolo'.

Another winning album.

Superb
Very enjoyable, one can hear all the words!!
She has an excellent voice.