Russell Watson (born 23 November 1966) is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club. He came to attention in 1999 when he sang "God Save the Queen" at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, "Barcelona" at the last match of the Premiership season between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford and a full set of songs at the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final in Barcelona between Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Watson's debut album titled The Voice was released in May 2001; four others followed. However, an album planned for November 2006 was delayed due to the removal of a benign pituitary tumour. This album, titled That's Life, was eventually released on 5 March 2007.
On 24 October 2007, it was discovered that there had been a regrowth of his pituitary tumour and bleeding into his brain. He underwent emergency surgery and was discharged from hospital on 31 October. He underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme, including radiotherapy. His sixth studio album, Outside In, was released on 26 November 2007. On 22 November 2010, Watson released La Voce, his first album since overcoming brain cancer.
Watson appeared as a judge on the talent show Last Choir Standing, which was broadcast on BBC One beginning 5 July 2008. His album People Get Ready, containing easy listening, rock and soul music standards, was released on 17 November 2008. He performed at the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2008 on 25 December 2008, and at the BBC's New Year Live 2008 programme from the HMS Belfast on the Thames on New Year's Eve. In April and May 2009, Watson undertook a 20-date tour of the UK backed by Liverpool's Sense of Sound, who came to his attention after they performed in the BBC's Last Choir Standing. In July 2009, he performed at the opening ceremony of the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[27]
Watson was one of the principal singers (in the role of Karl-Oskar) in the English world premiere of the Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla (Kristina from Duvemåla) by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus at Carnegie Hall in New York on 23 and 24 September 2009. He and his female lead Helen Sjöholm were praised by music critic Stephen Holden as having "first-rate poperetta voices, with Mr. Watson's Puccini-ready tenor the more operatic. Each brings down the house at least once." He will reprise the role in the UK premiere of the musical in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 14 April 2010.
Watson's debut album titled The Voice was released in May 2001; four others followed. However, an album planned for November 2006 was delayed due to the removal of a benign pituitary tumour. This album, titled That's Life, was eventually released on 5 March 2007.
On 24 October 2007, it was discovered that there had been a regrowth of his pituitary tumour and bleeding into his brain. He underwent emergency surgery and was discharged from hospital on 31 October. He underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme, including radiotherapy. His sixth studio album, Outside In, was released on 26 November 2007. On 22 November 2010, Watson released La Voce, his first album since overcoming brain cancer.
Watson appeared as a judge on the talent show Last Choir Standing, which was broadcast on BBC One beginning 5 July 2008. His album People Get Ready, containing easy listening, rock and soul music standards, was released on 17 November 2008. He performed at the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2008 on 25 December 2008, and at the BBC's New Year Live 2008 programme from the HMS Belfast on the Thames on New Year's Eve. In April and May 2009, Watson undertook a 20-date tour of the UK backed by Liverpool's Sense of Sound, who came to his attention after they performed in the BBC's Last Choir Standing. In July 2009, he performed at the opening ceremony of the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[27]
Watson was one of the principal singers (in the role of Karl-Oskar) in the English world premiere of the Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla (Kristina from Duvemåla) by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus at Carnegie Hall in New York on 23 and 24 September 2009. He and his female lead Helen Sjöholm were praised by music critic Stephen Holden as having "first-rate poperetta voices, with Mr. Watson's Puccini-ready tenor the more operatic. Each brings down the house at least once." He will reprise the role in the UK premiere of the musical in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 14 April 2010.
Born in Arezzo, Tuscany and raised in Rome, Vittorio was only four when he discovered his passion for music; a few years later he was made a soloist in the Sistine Chapel choir. Having made his debut as the Shepherd in Tosca at the age of thirteen, he began his vocal training in earnest, and at twenty-three became the youngest tenor ever to perform at La Scala, Milan. Within a few years, he was appearing around the world under the batons of Riccardo Chailly, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Myung-Whun Chung, Gustavo Dudamel and Antonio Pappano.
Events in the current season include his debut at the Paris Opera in Lucia di Lammermoor in Fall 2013 plus performances at La Scala, Milan, La Boheme in Vienna and New York and the release of his new album “Ave Maria” on Sony Classical. Drawing inspiration from his childhood singing in the legendary Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican, Vittorio now brings together an intimate collection of uplifting and beautiful spiritual songs, together with the very choir that shaped his musical beginnings.
He has a repertoire that includes some 24 operas from amongst others, Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Gounod, Massenet, Offenbach, Bernstein and the sacred works of Rossini. As one of the leading tenors of his generation, he now performs in the world's most prestigious opera houses including La Scala, Milan, The Royal Opera House, London, The Metropolitan Opera, New York, Washington National Opera, Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Opernhaus Zurich, Palau de Les Arts Valencia, and Chorégies D'Orange to name just a few. He brings the same energy to his live concert performances as he does to his operatic roles. In 2008 he was invited to sing before an audience of over 40,000 at an event organized in Chicago as a tribute to the late Luciano Pavarotti. In 2010 Vittorio collaborated with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in a special gala concert performance of Rigoletto in Tel Aviv and at the beginning of 2011 and 2012 he gave a tour of concerts in Germany and Switzerland performing arias and songs from his albums.
With a gold and platinum-selling debut album, a Grammy-nominated recording of Bernstein's West Side Story and his album "The Italian Tenor" (Sony Classical) reaching the number one position in the US Billboard Classical Album chart, Vittorio is already established as a successful recording artist. In 2011 Sony Classical also released “Arrivederci” his personal selection of the most beloved Italian songs and opera arias ever written for the tenor voice.
Events in the current season include his debut at the Paris Opera in Lucia di Lammermoor in Fall 2013 plus performances at La Scala, Milan, La Boheme in Vienna and New York and the release of his new album “Ave Maria” on Sony Classical. Drawing inspiration from his childhood singing in the legendary Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican, Vittorio now brings together an intimate collection of uplifting and beautiful spiritual songs, together with the very choir that shaped his musical beginnings.
He has a repertoire that includes some 24 operas from amongst others, Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Gounod, Massenet, Offenbach, Bernstein and the sacred works of Rossini. As one of the leading tenors of his generation, he now performs in the world's most prestigious opera houses including La Scala, Milan, The Royal Opera House, London, The Metropolitan Opera, New York, Washington National Opera, Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Opernhaus Zurich, Palau de Les Arts Valencia, and Chorégies D'Orange to name just a few. He brings the same energy to his live concert performances as he does to his operatic roles. In 2008 he was invited to sing before an audience of over 40,000 at an event organized in Chicago as a tribute to the late Luciano Pavarotti. In 2010 Vittorio collaborated with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in a special gala concert performance of Rigoletto in Tel Aviv and at the beginning of 2011 and 2012 he gave a tour of concerts in Germany and Switzerland performing arias and songs from his albums.
With a gold and platinum-selling debut album, a Grammy-nominated recording of Bernstein's West Side Story and his album "The Italian Tenor" (Sony Classical) reaching the number one position in the US Billboard Classical Album chart, Vittorio is already established as a successful recording artist. In 2011 Sony Classical also released “Arrivederci” his personal selection of the most beloved Italian songs and opera arias ever written for the tenor voice.
At only twenty-seven, Will Martin has already packed in a lifetime of paying dues. Dedicated study of musical styles and vocal training of the highest calibre, together with an active 'performance apprenticeship' honed on worldwide stages, has turned this born and bred New Zealander into the complete entertainer.
Since making the decision at the age of 18 to follow his musical dream, Will has gone from strength to strength: from entertaining on cruise ships and rocking the 'Hard Rock Cafe', to leading countries in their respective national anthems at some of the world's most prestigious sporting venues ... and all before securing a record contract with Universal Music.
His debut album - "A New World" - is an epic collection of classical crossover songs, which simultaneously reflect Will's origins and the scope of his unfaltering ambition. The album achieved double platinum status in his native New Zealand, and upon release in the UK it debuted at Number 1, making him the youngest tenor in musical history to top the classical charts.
Will's most recent appearances include performances at The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and The Henley Festival with Lesley Garrett, in addition to UK tours with The All Angels, and The Fron Male Voice Choir. Will is driven by the emotion that music evokes in people, and the passion it inspires. This dedicated performer with a contagious enthusiasm for his craft intends to continue telling the beautifully emotive stories of the world's greatest songwriters, whilst pushing the boundaries of the Classical Crossover genre.
Since making the decision at the age of 18 to follow his musical dream, Will has gone from strength to strength: from entertaining on cruise ships and rocking the 'Hard Rock Cafe', to leading countries in their respective national anthems at some of the world's most prestigious sporting venues ... and all before securing a record contract with Universal Music.
His debut album - "A New World" - is an epic collection of classical crossover songs, which simultaneously reflect Will's origins and the scope of his unfaltering ambition. The album achieved double platinum status in his native New Zealand, and upon release in the UK it debuted at Number 1, making him the youngest tenor in musical history to top the classical charts.
Will's most recent appearances include performances at The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and The Henley Festival with Lesley Garrett, in addition to UK tours with The All Angels, and The Fron Male Voice Choir. Will is driven by the emotion that music evokes in people, and the passion it inspires. This dedicated performer with a contagious enthusiasm for his craft intends to continue telling the beautifully emotive stories of the world's greatest songwriters, whilst pushing the boundaries of the Classical Crossover genre.