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