CityLife

CHRISTMAS miseries and cynics beware Welsh cross-over classical star Katherine Jenkins might just be the most infectiously cheery figure to ever step foot onto a stage ever!<br /> <br /> Barely a moment passes where you’re not being cajoled into a dopeish grin, even as the diminutive blonde coos something unintelligible in Welsh or makes a bad joke you simply keep smiling as she just seems so bloody nice.<br /> <br /> It can be seen all around the spacious Arena this evening and is testament to her commanding stage presence and carefully choreographed pre-watershed image. <br /> <br /> Taking in something of a greatest hits set, culled from each of her albums to date, the mezzo-soprano, accompanied on this jaunt with full orchestra, replicate the likes of ‘Abide With Me’, ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ - for anyone that hasn’t heard this enough times this past week already - filling the Arena and tugging heart-strings with her dulcet vocal flights.<br /> <br /> Harmonising<br /> <br /> Bringing along a number of guests too, including a harmonising genteel four-piece going by the collective name Blake that manage a respectable take on ‘Jerusalem’, a little known stateside piano prodigy, William Joseph, and former Britain’s Got Talent contestant, 13 year old Jenkins-alike Faryl Smith, herself having recently signed a mega-bucks record deal tonight tackles ‘Amazing Grace’ with the headline songstress.<br /> <br /> Diva-esque<br /> <br /> Whilst the differing acts provide Jenkins the chance to change her outfit every few songs (she changes dresses a diva-esque four times no less, looking equally stunning in each though) the re-emergence of Blake for a few more numbers later into the set just as Jenkins seems to be hitting her stride is a strange decision when most in attendance came only for her stirring and gorgeous tones.<br /> <br /> However there are plenty of opportunities to revel in her flawless vocal talents throughout the evening, her tribute to Marie Callas from last years Viva La Diva tap-extravaganza is technically stunning, whilst her take on the American spiritual ‘Down To The River’ is equally touching, the subtle backing orchestrations just as joyous to take in.<br /> <br /> So while people hardly leave disappointed come the early-enforced curfew they’d be forgiven for wondering why the blonde songstress would send out support players so often when this Arena would rather take in the radiance of her own talents.<br /> <br /> What did you think of the show? Have your say.<br />