Renowned classical singers Aled Jones MBE and Russell Watson join forces once more this Christmas
As the famous saying goes, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Welcoming the feeling of love and togetherness, two of our finest classical voices, Aled Jones MBE and Russell Watson, agree.
‘Christmas for me is a time to sit and relax with the family, but it is a time for reflection too,’ Russell tells me. ‘It’s all about tradition for me,’ says Aled. ‘I just close the front door and spend it with my family.’
These two treasured artists are on a colossal UK tour this November and December to perform tracks from their much-anticipated third album, Christmas with Aled and Russell.
'What a privilege this is, to be going back on tour!' says Aled. Famed as the teenage chorister, and for his 1985 version of Walking in the Air from The Snowman, he says it feels good to be performing again. 'Not being able to sing when everything was happening (during the pandemic) was horrible. Now, people have more of an appetite for live experiences.’
The singer adds: ‘Being on stage with Russell is always brilliant. We never know what’s going to happen. And I do believe this is the best album we have done together!'
‘I think we have become more accomplished singing with one another, and that doesn’t just happen overnight,’ says Russell. ‘We have got used to singing together, touring with one another, and we have been friends for a long time. We have been friends for over 20 years, but working with one another from a musical perspective is a completely different level. The blend of our voices is even better than it has ever been. It does what it says on the tin: a lovely, happy, feel-good album.’
Aled responds: ‘The repertoire is something we haven’t done before. Also, there are other things you wouldn’t expect us to do.’
The power duo have achieved tremendous success between them, from winning prestigious awards to record-breaking chart sales. There are high hopes for their forthcoming album, as their previous two albums, In Harmony (2018) and Back in Harmony (2019), both shot straight to number one on the UK Classical Album Chart and the top 10 of the UK Official Albums Charts.
Christmas with Aled and Russell features new recordings of beloved Christmas songs. ‘We had a really tough time choosing from so many magnificent Christmas songs, but we’ve whittled it down to a fabulous selection of tracks that truly mean something to us both,’ says Russell.
The album includes traditional carols such as O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and In the Bleak Midwinter, alongside festive favourites such as White Christmas, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas and Little Drummer Boy. The album is also set to feature a very special rendition of the iconic track, Walking in the Air.
And, kickstarting the tour on November 13 in Manchester, you have the opportunity to see the album come alive on stage with the pair singing in 21 of the country’s most stunning theatres and concert halls, including our very own Cliffs Pavilion in Southend, York Barbican and Brighton Dome before ending at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls on December 12.
Aled and Russell are a match made in heaven, a magical friendship that makes magical music, so what can we expect from the up-and-coming tour? Aled says, ‘If you want to come and spend two and half hours enjoying beautiful music and leave full of Christmas spirit – then come and see our show!
‘Nothing beats that feeling when you are on stage. Russ and I are used to doing it on our own, but being on stage with someone you can bounce off – I love it. It makes the concert even better for me.’
Russell says, ‘It is good to have somebody on stage with you and to have an on-road companion. It is different from solo performances, there is no question about it. As much as you like going on tour and it looks glamorous, it can be quite lonely as well. But to have someone on stage with you, and backstage, joking about who has the best dressing room and all the rest of it – it is great fun.’
Aled adds, ‘But to be honest, the best thing about touring with someone is getting better catering!’
Aled was known as one of the world’s most successful boy sopranos at the tender age of 12, and he has since released over 40 albums and has more than 40 silver, gold and platinum discs. The singer also boasts an extensive career as a TV and radio presenter. He joined Classic FM in 2002, and is currently hosting his Sunday morning show on the station, alongside presenting BBC’s Songs of Praise.
Aled has also been a firm favourite with the royal family since he was a child. His most memorable royal outing was for a private performance for the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana at Kensington Palace. ‘You saw how everyone reacted, not just our country, but people all around the world,’ says Aled.
Russell adds, ‘Aled has done a lot of presenting of the Festival of Remembrance, where the entire royal family was often in attendance. We both have lots of memories (of these events) – at least of all – our performances.’
Russell boasts an abundance of accolades, including when his debut album, The Voice saw him hold the top spot in the UK charts for an unprecedented 52 weeks in 2001, while also topping the charts in the USA. This made him the first British male artist to attain a simultaneous transatlantic number one. Not bad for the Salford-born lad who spent the first eight years of his working life in a factory making nuts and bolts.
Two years ago, he released 20, a compilation album marking 20 years since the release of his debut album, and since the beginning of this year, he has been performing the role of Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago all over the UK. Throughout his impressive career, he has performed for some of the world’s leading figures, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II and former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama.
Russell adds, ‘I remember the first time I performed for the late Queen Elizabeth II; it would have been way back at the turn of the century. Every performance is as relevant as the previous. There is always that sense of trepidation, and I asked myself, am I going to get this right? That feeling has never dissipated throughout my whole career.’
The album, Christmas with Aled and Russell, was out on November 11. Tour tickets on sale now at aledandrussell.com
