e-magazine
The Hot Zone
China's newly announced air defense identification zone over the East China Sea aims to shore up national security
Current Issue
· Table of Contents
· Editor's Desk
· Previous Issues
· Subscribe to Mag
Subscribe Now >>
Expert's View
World
Nation
Business
Finance
Market Watch
Legal-Ease
North American Report
Forum
Government Documents
Expat's Eye
Health
Science/Technology
Lifestyle
Books
Movies
Backgrounders
Special
Photo Gallery
Blogs
Reader's Service
Learning with
'Beijing Review'
E-mail us
RSS Feeds
PDF Edition
Web-magazine
Reader's Letters
Make Beijing Review your homepage
Hot Links

cheap eyeglasses
Market Avenue
eBeijing

Lifestyle
Lifestyle
UPDATED: March 31, 2009 NO. 13 APR. 2, 2009
Sarah Still Shining Bright
The world's best-selling soprano charms her Chinese fans
By ZAN JIFANG
Share

Half a year after her rendition of You and Me, the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, British crossover soprano Sarah Brightman was back in Beijing to thrill her legion of Chinese fans with her familiar haunting voice.

 

SWING ME: Sarah Brightman soars above the Beijing stage in an evening of vocal and hi-tech delight for fans on March 22 (CNSPHOTO)

As the first leg of her China tour, one part of her ongoing Symphony world tour that started in November 2008, Brightman performed at the Capital Gymnasium in Beijing on March 22.

After greeting the audience in Chinese, Brightman ignited the passion of everyone present with songs celebrating her 25 years in the business. The diminutive songstress also expressed her gratitude to all those in China who have supported her all these years.

Brightman's angelic tone, together with the breathtaking hi-tech stage sets, which created a virtual and holographic backdrop, took the audience into a fairyland.

During the two-hour concert, Brightman not only presented songs from her new album Symphony, such as Fleurs Du Mal, Let It Rain and Symphony, but also rolled out her classics, such as Phantom of the Opera and Time to Say Goodbye, which had the audience singing along.

 

YOU AND ME: Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan perform the theme song at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (XING GUANGLI) 

The first climax of the concert came when Brightman sang What a Wonderful World, a favorite among Chinese music lovers. Supported by innovative stage technology, a forest, complete with flying butterflies, suddenly appeared on the huge screen behind her, which added to the illusion of the ethereal part of nature.

Brightman, who owns 150 gold and platinum records, went on to wow the audience when she was seen singing in a water pool, on an outsized luxurious bed, riding a bicycle through space and sitting on a giant swing with red petals flowing down from the ceiling. Now almost 50, Brightman has retained her figure and beauty very well.

The evening's only regret was that she did not sing the much anticipated song You and Me. Many had hoped she would join up with her Chinese Olympic singing partner Liu Huan, but it was not to be.

The only guest performer on the night was noted Italian tenor Alessandro Safina, who sang duet with Brightman on three numbers, including Phantom of the Opera.

Thunderous applause kept Brightman from ending the concert. She sang Deliver Me and Running as an encore, leading the concert to a sea of cheers and arm waving.

When the lights finally dimmed, the beautiful voice, the perfect combination of classic and pop and the wonderful stage effects had given the Beijing faithful a night to remember.

1   2   Next  



 
Top Story
-Protecting Ocean Rights
-Partners in Defense
-Fighting HIV+'s Stigma
-HIV: Privacy VS. Protection
-Setting the Tone
Most Popular
 
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved