Serenade

Katherine Jenkins (Artist, Performer), Georges Bizet (Composer), Nicholas Brodszky (Composer), Leo Delibes (Composer), Carole Bayer Foster David / Sager (Composer), Charles Gounod (Composer), Agustin Lara (Composer), Ennio Morricone (Composer), Giorgio Flavio Musumarra Roberto / Pintus (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Katherine Jenkins
• Composer: Georges Bizet, Nicholas Brodszky, Leo Delibes, Carole Bayer Foster David / Sager, Charles Gounod, et al.
• Audio CD (February 17, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000GWBO2K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,825 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #52 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > Italian
  • #89 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Historical Periods > Modern & 20th Century

Track Listings

1. Be My Love

2. Quello Che Faro (Everything I Do) (Ft Bryan Adams)

3. Flower Duet

4. Granada

5. Pachelbel's Canon

6. O Mio Babbino Caro

7. Lisa Lan

8. Dear Lord & Father Of Mankind

9. Nella Fantasia

10. Jurassic Park

11. Il Canto

12. Prayer

13. Green Green Grass Of Home

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

Following on from the heady success of albums like Premiere, Second Nature, and Living a Dream, Welsh mezzo-soprano and sometime fashion model and music teacher Katherine Jenkins now presents her fourth collection of classically-rendered hymns, arias, and pop classics. Serenade seems an understated title for someone with such a soaring voice and dynamic range, yet fans will know Jenkins is more than capable of balancing her operatic cartwheels with moments of real tenderness. This is evidenced immediately on the album's opening track, an elegant version of Bryan Adams's "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," sung in Italian with Adams himself featured on guitar. The same undulations of quietude and drama unfold throughout the rest of the LP as Jenkins recreates timeless classics such as "Dear Lord and Father," "Lisa Lan," "Chance in a Lifetime," and "O Mio Babbino Caro" with characteristic grace and aplomb. --Danny McKenna

Product Description

Katherine Jenkins' fourth studio album Serenade became the number one album on the UK mainstream charts and sold more than 50,000 copies in its first week of release. This ensured it was the biggest seller for a classical CD in Britain ever. Serenade features one of Katherine's favorite songs of all time, her "classicalised" version of Bryan Adams' Everything I Do. "I like the idea of doing a classical version of a pop song. Bryan ended up coming into the studio and playing guitar on the track, which was a moment that was such a thrill."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just Another Pretty Face, March 25, 2008

By 

Jennie Johanson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serenade (Audio CD)

I will admit that when I first saw the track listing for this CD, I felt disappointed. "Come on!" I thought, "Katherine should be more original than this! Practically every soprano records `O Mio Babbino Caro' at one point or another, and here are two common songs from the classical crossover genre, `Nella Fantasia' and `The Prayer'. Should I even invest in something that will only be a re-hash of things I have already heard many times?" In the end however, I decided that even with the unimaginative song selections, I would buy this CD.

I am very glad I did! There are so many gems here that I now consider this Katherine's best album. Surprisingly, "Nella Fantasia" instantly became a favorite of mine. Her rich, warm tones really brought this song to life in a way I had never heard before. It could have been written for her! Ultimately, I concluded that she did justice to every single track, from the rousing gypsy dance ("Chanson Boheme") to the beautiful hymn, "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind." I would not have left out a single one, not even "O Mio Babbino Caro" (which I still think is sung too often.)

One thing people seem to be arguing about is what genre Katherine belongs to. With arias like "One Fine Day" in her repertoire, she can hardly be called a pop singer, but seeing that she has never actually performed in an opera, she can't rightly be called a legitimate opera singer, either. Instead, she is a part of a growing community of what we call "Classical Crossover" singers. Some people like this, some people don't. I just accept her for who she is - a classically trained recording artist who consistently produces wonderful music.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brava, Katherine!, December 25, 2006

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Serenade (Audio CD)

Katherine Jenkins is quickly establishing herself as one of the leading operatic mezzo-sopranos, and her 2006 album, entitled "Serenade", is one of her best.

Jenkins has the knack of choosing some of the greatest classical pieces but also manages to inject her repertoire with modern selections (her 2005 album "Living a Dream" featured a mix of contemporary musical theatre and classical pieces). Here on the "Serenade" album she's joined by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and together they spin magic with Delibes' "The Flower Duet". For the serious opera fans, it's probably the best track on the album. Jenkins also enchants with a very pretty "Lisa Lan", "Green Green Grass of Home" and "The Prayer" (normally sung by a tenor, but equally stirring as performed here by Jenkins).

A very fine album indeed. [Universal/UCJ Music 476 571-8]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irena Tully, www.[...].com, February 8, 2007

By 

Graham Tully "Irena Tully, Impulse Production... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serenade (Audio CD)

A well balanced selection of music, performed with feelings and charisma and most of all an accomplished and sensual voice, making this album unique and a joy to listen to. Katherine Jenkins certainly represents a successful & appealing cross-over between classical and modern genres. Wonderful to have Dame Kiri Te Kanawa joining in 'Flower Duet', as well as Bryan Adams in 'Everything I Do'.