Charlotte Church Biography
Born in Llandaff, Cadriff, Charlotte has loved music and performing for as long as she can remember. "When I was three and a half, I sang Ghostbusters with my cousin at a seaside holiday camp in Caernarfon. When we'd finished, she left the stage but I refused to go - they had to drag me off!"
Five years later and Charlotte was making a name for herself at local competitions, seeing off professional singers. "It was then we realised there really was a voice there," recalls her mother Maria. But the next step was all up to Charlotte.
"I was watching Richard and Judy and they said they were looking for talented kids. No one was around so I phoned up," says Charlotte. "The producers said I had to sing down the phone. So I did 'Pie Jesu,' and that was it. "I was invited on the show! Mum and Dad were the last to find out!"
It wasn't long before Charlotte was on TV again, this time to say a few words about her Aunt Caroline, who was appearing on The Big, Big Talent Show. But host Jonathan Ross asked Charlotte to sing and she stole the show. Suddenly everybody wanted to see this girl with the golden voice - more TV appearances followed, as well as high profile concerts at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales, the London Palladium, and the Royal Albert Hall, and opening for Shirley Bassey in Antwerp, Belgium.
Charlotte was introduced to impresario Jonthan Shalit, who contacted Sony Music UK Chairman Paul Burger. When he heard twelve-year-old Charlotte Church sing, he was so overwhelmed he signed her up on the spot. Her voice had to be heard to be believed, and after lisenting to her debut recording, Voice of an Angel, one thing is certian: hers is a gift heaven sent.
How does Charlotte fell about all of it? "It all went a bit mad," she laughs, "and as for the ball gowns I have to wear for concerts, I hate them! Thats one thing that's got to change!" In spite of her talent, she still wants to live the life of a teenager. "Well like any other girl, I love shopping: jeans, shoes - especially shoes, I have fourteen pairs not including trainers," she admits. "I'm also a real fan of computer games, and I love the Corrs, Puff Daddy and Gloria Estefan." But Charlotte's biggest ambition is "to sing my favorite opera, Madame Butterfly, at La Scala in Milan - and get a standing ovation, of course!"
The repertoire for this album was selected after her singing tutor Louise Ryan had produced a list of sixty to seventy songs that were favorites of Charlotte, including her signature song "Pie Jesu," from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem. The list also included "Suo-Gan" and "Three Welsh Bird Songs," because as Charlotte says, "I like them, and I'm Welsh!" Producer Grace Row and Jeremy Caulton made some additional suggestions - "Ave Maria," "In Trutina," and an aria from Hansel and Gretel. And this record is the result.
Lisenting to the finished product, Charlotte says she loves it all, but does have her top five: "Pie Jesu," "When at night I go to sleep," from Hansel and Gretel, "A Lullaby," "In trutina," and "Amazing Grace." She hopes you, too, will agree with her.
Writen by James Marsh
From the CD Voice of an Angel
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