| Classical/Popular crossover music is massively popular | | | | Another ‘crossover’ artist is Sarah Brightman. |
| today and in some circles is called Popera. The | | | | She was born in 1960 and is an English crossover |
| definition is generally thought of as ‘An artist who | | | | soprano. She first came to prominence in the dance |
| produces a variety of ‘show-tunes’ or | | | | outfits ‘Pan’s People’ and later ‘Hot |
| ‘popular tunes’, when he/she would normally | | | | Gossip’ in the late seventies and early eighties. She |
| only record traditional, classical pieces of music. Also, | | | | later met Andrew Lloyd Webber when she auditioned |
| collaborations between Classical and Popular artists | | | | for ‘Cats’. Sarah Brightman appeared in his |
| can also be looked upon as ‘Crossover’ in style; | | | | adaptation of the musical ‘Phantom of the |
| for example, ex Police singer and bass player Sting | | | | Opera’. Toward the 1990’s her stage career |
| and Edin Karamazov’s album ‘Songs from the | | | | curtailed and she pursued a solo career, which was |
| Labyrinth’. Of course, there is such a wide variety | | | | inspired by german band Enigma. Her first release was |
| of different genres these days that almost any type | | | | ‘Dive’, a water themed pop album. She went on |
| of music is being experimented with in this way. | | | | to combine electronic dance music with rock elements |
| Some artists are extremely criticized for their | | | | and classical strings. In her long and varied career, it is |
| cross-overs by their die-hard fans and the fans of the | | | | the way she has melded the music genres at her |
| songs they’re covering, as territory they | | | | disposal that has set Sarah Brightman apart from |
| shouldn’t really be venturing into. Others think that | | | | other classical performers. ‘Time to say |
| new life can be breathed into an old genre and will | | | | goodbye’ was the result of a fantastic collaboration |
| attract a wider audience. This has been the case in | | | | with Andrea Bocelli and went on to sell 5 million copies |
| quite a few cases, and in fact, is no new phenomenon. | | | | worldwide. Obviously, she had found her calling; |
| By far though, the most popular fusion of music genre | | | | combining her classical background and voice with a |
| is that of classical/popular. Back in the 1950’s the | | | | more popular sound. |
| American tenor and film star Mario Lanza reached | | | | Katherine Jenkins is one of today’s biggest names |
| across his classical background to appeal to a | | | | in the ‘crossover’ area of classical/popular |
| massive audience of ‘popular’ listening fans and | | | | music. Not only is she very beautiful, so therefore easy |
| many of his tracks made it into the music charts. His | | | | to watch, but has brought the vibrant, classical sound |
| song ‘Be my love’ made it to number one in the | | | | to the mainstream. Born in North Wales in 1980, |
| Billboard pop singles chart in 1951, and sold a total of 2 | | | | Katherine has had massive success with her |
| million copies worldwide; a feat no classical artist has | | | | crossover music. After initially just concentrating on the |
| achieved since. Lanza recorded two other million selling | | | | classical side of her music, in 2005 she recorded an |
| singles that made it into the Billboard chart. | | | | Italian version of Dolly Parton’s ‘I will always love |
| The more popular and well known ‘crossover’ | | | | you’ on the album ‘Living a Dream’. After |
| artists of today include Vanessa Mae. Born in 1978, | | | | this album was released, uniquely, she held the top |
| she started playing the piano at 3 and the violin at 5 | | | | three places in the classical crossover music chart. |
| years old. She has astounded audiences all over the | | | | Classical/Popular crossover music exposes the |
| world with her mixture of amazing violin and piano | | | | general public to an area of music they wouldn’t |
| playing abilities, and her youth and exuberance. Her | | | | normally access and can provide not only the |
| music style is self described as ‘violin techno | | | | unexpected publicity to an artist, but gives them, |
| acoustic fusion’, and several of her albums include | | | | (especially in Vanessa Mae’s case) an extra string |
| her ‘techno’ style. The combination of up-beat, | | | | to their bow. The magical sound that can be made |
| funky sounds and her traditional, classical background | | | | from the fusion of the two is a sound that I’m sure |
| makes for a great, modern sound, which is obviously | | | | is here to stay. |
| why her popularity has soared. | | | | |