Russell Watson
Russell Watson is the UK's fastest up-and-coming operatic tenor.
The 27-year old from Salford in North-West England has come a long way since his days on the shop floor of a Manchester engineering firm, when in his spare time he pursued a passion for singing, performing in working men's clubs and local halls. The venues became stadiums as word of Russell's voice spread, reaching, amongst others, Martin Edwards, Chairman of Manchester United. This marked the start of a career, which would see Russell Watson sign a five-album deal with Decca Music Group, home to Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli.
The natural and extraordinary qualities of Russell's voice emerged without any formal coaching, and for the last few years he has been studying the operatic and wider classical repertoire. "At such an age", says his voice coach and mentor William Hayward, a former pupil of Sir Adrian Boult, "he shouldn't be able to do the things he can. I've been in the opera business all my life, and I've never come across anything like it."
Russell's ambition is to take opera and classical music to a completely new audience, one he feels ideally equipped to tap: "To give classical music back to the people, or rather, to give it to people for the first time…whether I'm singing in front of five or 92,000 people, I just love to entertain. Everywhere I go people ask me to belt them a note because there is nothing like hearing the power of a big voice hitting the top note - it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up."
Russell appeared as guest artist with Sir Cliff Richard during his Hyde Park concerts in the summer of 1999, and again performed as guest artist with Sir Cliff during his ten-concert run at the NIA in Birmingham. He has appeared at such prestigious venues as the Royal Albert Hall, where he appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Choral Society. He has also appeared with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Russell Watson's debut album, The Voice, brings together classic operatic arias with popular favourites, along with new music.
The 27-year old from Salford in North-West England has come a long way since his days on the shop floor of a Manchester engineering firm, when in his spare time he pursued a passion for singing, performing in working men's clubs and local halls. The venues became stadiums as word of Russell's voice spread, reaching, amongst others, Martin Edwards, Chairman of Manchester United. This marked the start of a career, which would see Russell Watson sign a five-album deal with Decca Music Group, home to Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli.
The natural and extraordinary qualities of Russell's voice emerged without any formal coaching, and for the last few years he has been studying the operatic and wider classical repertoire. "At such an age", says his voice coach and mentor William Hayward, a former pupil of Sir Adrian Boult, "he shouldn't be able to do the things he can. I've been in the opera business all my life, and I've never come across anything like it."
Russell's ambition is to take opera and classical music to a completely new audience, one he feels ideally equipped to tap: "To give classical music back to the people, or rather, to give it to people for the first time…whether I'm singing in front of five or 92,000 people, I just love to entertain. Everywhere I go people ask me to belt them a note because there is nothing like hearing the power of a big voice hitting the top note - it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up."
Russell appeared as guest artist with Sir Cliff Richard during his Hyde Park concerts in the summer of 1999, and again performed as guest artist with Sir Cliff during his ten-concert run at the NIA in Birmingham. He has appeared at such prestigious venues as the Royal Albert Hall, where he appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Choral Society. He has also appeared with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Russell Watson's debut album, The Voice, brings together classic operatic arias with popular favourites, along with new music.
