Faultless performance from nation’s sweetheart

KATHERINE JENKINS, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

IT is easy to see why this record-breaking, multi-platinum selling mezzo-soprano has quickly become one of the nation’s sweethearts.

She appeared on stage last night looking stunning in a range of fabulous dresses, bravely singing songs of heartbreak and love — less than a month after splitting from her TV presenter fiancé Gethin Jones, and the voice……

This pint-sized Welsh lass has a fabulous voice, glorious to listen to, and to top it all has a lovely disposition and an infectious sense of humour which saw her ask for notes to “make her laugh,” and had everyone in stitches as she read some of them out.

One young man wanted to take her for a night out — to Greggs, and asked what her favourite pasty was, and someone asked for a dedication for their 90-year-old father, “Time To Say Goodbye.”

“Not quite what I would have asked for,” she laughed.

The friendly banter saw the 31-year-old singer welcomed right into the hearts of a packed audience, especially when she thanked everyone for their support, and confided it had been her happiest night so far in her “Daydream” tour, which saw her break down in tears on the first day, shortly after announcing her break-up, and wondering if she would be able to pull the tour off.

But she need not have worried. The hits came fast and furious, as Katherine used her incredible voice, alongside the National Symphony Orchestra, to fill the Bridgewater Hall.

She gave voice to many favourites, including “I Dreamed A Dream”, sung in French, the language in which it was written, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “Time To Say Goodbye”, and called on her Celtic roots to perform the folk song “Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love’s Hair)”.

Katherine’s guest on the tour is American singer-songwriter Nathan Pacheco, who was another joy to hear.

He made some brave choices, with “Danny Boy” and “Nessun Dorma”, but pulled them off to perfection.

The pair sang hits from stage musicals “Phantom of the Opera,” and “West Side Story,” and it would be a surprise if we didn’t see a lot more of Nathan on the British stage at the end of what is his first UK tour, and his first trip to Manchester.

Katherine earned a well-deserved standing ovation last night, and she and her guest appear again tonight at the Bridgewater Hall. If you can get your hands on a ticket, you won’t be disappointed.