Katherine Jenkins: Fans will fix her
Making headlines for her personal life rather than her music, Welsh treasure, Katherine Jenkins, brought her latest show to Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium, for an elegant performance that showed both her strength and fragility.
The classical cross-over star who is one of a few to have reached the mainstream, stunned and sparkled in an array of gem encrusted gowns to get pulses raising even on the down-tempo tracks. Showcasing last year's release, Daydream, old favourites made the set, with a compelling rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah early in the show. Backed by the powerful National Symphony Orchestra, the emotional track made a nursery rhyme out of pop star Alexandra Burke's chart invading cover.
Les Miserables classic, I Dreamed A Dream, or J'avais Reve D'une Autre Vie as it's known in the album, was sung with a difference. Using the original French tongue by which it was written, the well-known classic was given a new edge and intensity, whilst maintaining the familiar melancholy melody.
Dazzling the audience with her charm as well as her versatile mezzo-soprano song, the 31-year-old bashfully thanked the polite crowd between tracks and invited them to write down any requests or questions on paper to be passed to her backstage for the second half. Stating, "Glasgow, you need to make me laugh," she makes no secret of her recent struggles, though for fans this makes her all the more endearing.
After a waltz with supportive musical director Anthony Inglis and a brief interval just long enough to slide into a gown of even more sparkles, the demure star runs through shout-outs and answers questions, a large number of which take advantage of her newly single status.
Taking it all in good humour, Jenkins switches from her girlish giggle back into her elegant and powerful performance. Joined by the fine voice of American, Nathan Pacheco, the pair duet Tonight from West Side Story. With his warm vocal tones complementing our hostess' upper range vibrato, the dramatic track leads to Katherine exiting the stage, leaving tall, dark, handsome Pacheco to take over.
Much to the slightly more mature female in the venue's delight, Pacheco involves the audience as his backing singers, ending his part of the show with a good attempt at Nessun Dorma. He fails to outshine the star of the night however, who reappears for an enchanting trip back in time with Somewhere Over The Rainbow and a traditional Welsh song from her days as a youngster at church.
The most emotional moment of the night comes in new track Break It To My Heart. Fully involved in her performance, though realistically dewy eyed, the tale of break-up and heartache is sung with particular pain, most likely because she means every word.
Thanking the audience sincerely for their support, telling them that she really is at her happiest when she is on stage, I Could Have Danced All Night ends proceedings lightly before an encore of Time To Say Goodbye.
The overwhelming track is expected, though has the same impact as a first listen, proving regardless of her recent trauma, the show must go on, and Jenkins has every right to be the nation's sweetheart.
