The most successful classical artist of the 21st century?
NewsThe Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins is living the dream.
In her newest c.v. reprinted yesterday by the Times magazine, Jenkins claims sales of ‘more than 2.6 million copies’ of 14 albums and purports to be ‘the most successful classical artist of the 21st century.’
Can that be true?
Describing herself as a ‘classical’ singer is slightly far-fetched: she performs popular TV themes, movie hits, church hymns, opera arias and anything else the crowd might fancy.
As for ‘success’, André Rieu has sold more albums and concert tickets than any living classical artist.
Andrea Bocelli has multiple millions on his sales chart.
Lang Lang is famous in China, Jenkins only in the UK.
Cecilia Bartoli has sold more arias than any opera singer on record since Maria Callas.
Daniel Barenboim has sweeping political influence.
Jonas Kaufmann is the hottest ticket in opera.
So how does Jenkins get away with it ?
Well, it’s PR. Some people will believe anything – for example – Trump won the recent Presidential election by “a landslide” but it was rigged and stolen from him. When you stand for nothing, you are likely to believe anything……….
John That is INSANE. Rigged and stolen? That was literally disproven. Flipping heck
We’re talking about the very successful Katherine Jenkins heee, like her or not, and not Trump. He is just old and ancient history.
Crawl back in your hole John Kelly. The world has enough idiots we don’t need to hear you parroting lies.
Maybe she doesn´t know any of your list…
Ha, ha, ha! That made me laugh!
I suppose The Sun is the most successful newspaper in the UK.
But will people be remembering its journalistic achievements in 10/20/30 or more years time?
Good for sport – ha, ha, ha!
Gotta love Bernard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l63aIA3e-Tc
My criterion of musical success is artistic achievement, rather than financial achievement.
In her own way, she is she has brought a lot of pleasure to so many who would have no idea about classical music, or know who Marilyn Horne or Janet Baker, or Rene Fleming are, let alone their wonderful singing and artistic achievement.
Technically, the abovementioned others began their artistic careers in the 20th Century. Jenkins is technically more of a “21st Century artist”, in that her public career started in 2004.
When she gave up the idea of school teaching, and happens to be a magnificent dancer.
She has a nice face.
It always helped me when i went for interviews
I don’t really consider André Rieu and Andrea Bocelli “classical” artists.
Bocelli to me always sounds like a pop singer trying to sing opera, but better than Michael Bolton lol.
Rieu is popular because the audience can sing and dance to the music. As if they are at a
Wedding.
You’re way too diplomatic here! Rieu is a purveyor of schlock, a tasteless panderer and a total goofball. Bocelli is, at best, a decent crooner.
Funny how Pavarotti rated him., and unlike any pop singer, sings without a microphone and with a large orchestra.
Try telling the Viennese that Andre Rieu isn’t a classical artist.
Bottom of the barrel. That’s what sells. By this criteria, that trash is one of the most successful Xover impostors of the 21st C or any other.
“Lang Lang is famous in China, Jenkins only in the UK.”
Not sure I understand the logic: Lang Lang IS Chinese, surely?
I believe his point is intended to be that the UK has a population of 67 million, while China’s population is 1.3 billion. There are probably more people who have bought a Lang Lang recording in China than the entire population of the UK.
Different issue but related, is Fischer-Dieskau still the most recorded artist in history to date?
Neither Jenkins,nor Rieu or Bocelli is a classical artist.Period.
IYHO!
Why does it matter? People like her singing, and pay for tickets and CDs. PR companies write guff because it’s their job.
Meanwhile the snobbery and exclusivity of classical music is kept burning bright on this site.
If you don’t like her, ignore her.
Exactly! No need to listen.
Silly but predictable response. You sing classical pieces, you get compared with others who do the same. That’s how it works.
If she can’t deliver, that’s down to her, it’s not snobbery.
I understand you view on exclusivity & snobbery…however I personally think Ms Jenkins is vastly overrated. She’s mediocre at best & has an over-inflated view of her “talent”. Many many singers in the UK are far better than her. Whilst your advice is correct, she is difficult to ignore….
Calling Jenkins a “classical artist” is akin to calling Meghan Markle an “actress.” That dog won’t hunt.
I think Lang Lang is in danger of becoming a classical pop artist.
Hi Zandonai, agreed In fact he already is, and not a good one. More like a comedian
Jenkins “Welsh singer” – an oxymoron.
Not Welsh, can’t speak a word of it.
Singer? With non existent technique, no existent musicality & a horrible voice.
After our great voices Gwynne Howell, (Sir) Geraint Evans, Bryn Terfel and of course the wonderful talented Harry Secombe, Gwyneth Jones, Magaret Price, WTF are we doing grand standing from our land of song, this stupid ignorant girl with no talent ?
The passive massive who do not know any better don’t listen to her, they look at her!
Never forget – she studied for 4 years at the Royal Academy of Music.
It’s wordplay It’s the words they leave out rather than include. It’s the phrases. A press release stating ” Biggest selling classical singer in the UK since 2006 with the initials KJ and a pet Labrador ” is rewritten by lazy journalists as ” Biggest Selling Singer “. It’s a trick the ” Pop Department” of Decca pull time and time again. On an international level she is miniscule. But other than he 3 Tenors, Pavarotti didn’t shift units like these popera acts.
Fun fact, Adrea Reiu has grossed more in live box office than virtually any rock or pop act you could name.