Katherine Jenkins is no stranger to performing in the UAE, but you get the sense that her latest gig is the one she has been waiting for.
Ever since Dubai Opera opened in 2016, the popular British soprano has been watching the venue’s development with interest. So when the opportunity came to bring her latest world tour to the UAE, there was only one place she wanted to perform.
"I always have a great time in the UAE and audiences are really lovely and empathetic," she says. "But since Dubai Opera opened, it has been a place I have been dying to perform in. I know that the atmosphere and acoustics will be brilliant because one thing Dubai does is deliver everything to the highest quality."
And she is definitely coming. After the cancellation of numerous events around the country due to coronavirus, the Welsh singer assured fans on social media that she is definitely still coming.
Though Jenkins is an arena act back in the UK, the relative intimacy of the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera suits her new tour. Backed by a string quartet, she will perform her biggest hits as well as songs from her most recent album Guiding Light. Released in 2018, it is an intimate collection of tracks that features Jenkins singing personal favourites, such as Cat Stevens's Morning Has Broken, and Never Enough from The Greatest Showman soundtrack, as well as new material such as Xander's Song, in honour of her son, born in April 2018.
While Guiding Light doesn't feature Jenkins's signature vocal acrobatics, the hushed and serene vibe permeating the record is the sound of an artist comfortable in her skin. "With each album I am trying to show where I am in my life and with Guiding Light I do feel incredibly thankful and happy," she says. "That's what I am trying to convey with the new music. Sometimes it is not about me being showy and doing all the high notes and other technical vocal stuff, it is also about delivering real emotion and singing from the heart."
This is what being a parent does. Jenkins says that being a mother of two – her daughter, Aaliyah Reign, is 3, while her son, Xander, recently turned 2 – has influenced her career as it has offered her new creative and emotional reserves to draw from. "Having children changed everything for me," she says.
"It made me approach songs from a new perspective. I find certain pieces much more emotional because I am looking at the lyrics from a new angle. And that has been a massive change for me. There are songs that I have been singing for 15 years and only recently I am thinking, 'Wow, I am hearing this is in a new way now.'"
One such track is her signature showstopper, We Meet Again, originally recorded in 1939 by British singer Vera Lynn. Before, she viewed it as a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, but Jenkins says it now elicits a lump in her throat when delivering key lines such as: "We'll meet again / Don't know where, don't know when / But I know we'll meet again some sunny day."
"That is a Second World War song and I have sung that so many times," she says. "But when I think about it now, in 2020, and the idea of being apart from my children and family, that song now just breaks my heart."
Another aspect of Guiding Light that shines through is how settled Jenkins sounds. The album feels like a welcome breather in what has been a busy 17-year career.
Jenkins was born in Wales and rose through the UK classical music ranks by winning BBC 2 Radio 2 Welsh Choirgirl of the Year twice and joining London's prestigious Royal Academy of Music aged 17. Three years later Jenkins made international headlines when she was reportedly offered a £1 million (Dh470m) recording contract, which was a record for the UK's classical music industry.
The unprecedented nature of that deal was not only a shock to her and her non-musical parents, but it forced Jenkins to quickly entertain the unsavoury aspects of an entertainment career. Alongside big-selling albums, tours and television appearances, including the British version of talent show Dancing with the Stars in 2014 (she came second), and an acting role in the 2010 Christmas special episode for Doctor Who, Jenkins remains subject to occasional unflattering tabloid headlines, which comes with being a British celebrity. Getting used to that scrutiny was an adjustment, she says.
"I felt incredibly privileged but it was also a very steep learning curve. You know, nobody in my family is linked to the entertainment world, so I had to learn a lot about the business on my own. So that means coming to terms with being a familiar face and not allowing it to affect other parts of my life. It's really about doing the work and giving it your best."
It is a life lesson she credits to her late factory worker father (he died when Jenkins was 15 years old) and mother, who worked as a radiographer. "My parents were not particularly ambitious, but they worked hard in their jobs and that's what they taught my sister and I. They always showed us that you really get out of things what you put in," she says.
One thing you need to know about me is that I never think of myself as a brand, ever. I've always looked at myself as an artist who wants to do things that excite and inspire me.
"The other day I was having lunch with the head of my record company and she said that I was the hardest-working person in classical music. I take that as a massive compliment. Because I do feel it is all about the commitment and the responsibility of being the best that you can."
But is Jenkins at risk of spreading herself too thin? In addition to her debut film role in the yet-to-be released drama Minamata, alongside Johnny Depp and Bill Nighy, and her frequent television appearances, is she concerned that her celebrity will overshadow her artistry? It is an emphatic "no" from Jenkins.
"One thing you need to know about me is that I never think of myself as a brand, ever," she says. "I've always looked at myself as an artist who wants to do things that excite and inspire me. I like the idea of stepping out of my comfort zone and being slightly terrified. I never had this plan of being a multifaceted entertainer. I just want to give things a try."
Katherine Jenkins performs at Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, today. Tickets from Dh295 are available at www.dubaiopera.com
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
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The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
