Chasing dreams with Sarah Brightman

English soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer Sarah Brightman will be in town next week, performing for the very first time in Bangkok on Wednesday night.

“I’ve been in love with her voice from as long as I can remember,” says Panchanok Phatheethin Tarras-Wahlberg, chief executive  of concert promoter Eventasia, speaking during the recent conference at Siam Paragon’s Lifestyle Hall. “This will be a major production with terrific sound and lighting as the concert is part of her ‘Dreamchaser’ world tour.”

“She has a heavenly voice and switches so easily from classical to pop and opera,” says Hattaya Wongkrajang, managing director and DJ of Love Radio 104.5FM.

“Brightman has inspired many new singers to tackle compositions that are sometimes considered too difficult. She’s a great role model,” says Ronnapong Kamnuanthip, CEO of Universal Music (Thailand).

Brightman began her career as a member of the dance troupe Hot Gossip and released several disco singles as a solo performer. In 1981, she made her West End musical theatre debut in “Cats” and met composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, whom she married. She went on to star in several Broadway musicals, including “The Phantom of the Opera”, where she originated the role of Christine. The Original London Cast Album of the musical was released in CD format in 1987 and sold 40 million copies worldwide, making it the biggest-selling cast album of all time.

After retiring from the stage and divorcing Lloyd Webber, Brightman resumed her music career with former Enigma producer Frank Peterson, this time as a classical crossover artist. She is often credited as the creator of this genre and remains among the most prominent performers, with worldwide sales of more than 30 million records and 2 million DVDs, establishing herself as the world's best-selling soprano of all time. Her 1996 duet with the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, “Time To Say Goodbye”, topped charts all over Europe and became the highest and fastest selling single of all time in Germany, where it stayed at the top of the charts for 14 consecutive weeks. It went on to become an international success selling 12 million copies worldwide.

This is Brightman’s first world tour  since 2008 and it’s to promote her new album, “Dreamchaser”, which marks her first collaboration with producer Mike Hedges. The first singles is “Angel.”

This album has a number of cover songs, beginning with “One Day Like This” which was originally recorded by British rock group Elbow, on their album “The Seldom Seen Kid”. “Glosoli) is a song written by the band Sigur Ros, but recorded in English by Brightman. “Breathe Me” is a cover from the album “Colour the Small One”, by the Austrian singer Sia Furler while “Eperd”" is a cover of a track from the Cocteau Twins album, “Milk and Kisses”.

During the press conference, Atthawadee “Mint” Jiramaneekul performed Brightman’s solo “Think of Me” from the stage musical “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from “Evita”. 

Talent show stars Susana “Gong” Tasniyom from KPN and Jitsuda “Pui” Hengrasamee from The Voice duetted on the theme song of “Phantom of the Opera.”

 

 

We have tickets

_ The Nation is giving away three pairs of tickets to Sarah Brightman’s concert on Wednesday night. They will go to the first three people to name the year in which Brightman made her West End debut in “Cats”.

_ Answers with “Brightman quiz” in the subject box should be sent to [email protected] by noon on Monday. The winners will be announced on Tuesday.

_ Sarah Brightman performs this Wednesday at 8 at Bitec Bangna Hall 106.

_ Tickets cost Bt4,000 to Bt7,000 and Bt9,000  for VIP seats at the Eventasia ticket centre at Siam Paragon. Call (02) 991 2900 or www.Eventasia.co.th.