Walking in the Air singer Aled Jones to perform in Cambridge with Russell Watson
Jones, possibly Britain’s most famous former choirboy, speaks about his new album and tour with Watson, a fellow classical ‘crossover’ star
For many of us, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a repeat showing of the classic 1982 Channel 4 animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ children’s picture book, The Snowman – featuring that theme song.
I refer, of course, to Walking in the Air, a timeless melody sung by Peter Auty in the film but then released as a single in 1985, a Welsh boy soprano named Aled Jones taking it to number five in the charts on his way to becoming a household name.
Having shot to stardom at such a young age, Aled could have found that his celebrity status was fleeting, as so many other child stars before and since have, yet the now 48-year-old has managed to remain in the public eye.
Not only is he still releasing music, but he has also worked extensively as a television and radio presenter, for the likes of the BBC, ITV, BBC Radio 2 and 3 and BBC Radio Wales.
He currently hosts the Classic FM Sunday Breakfast Show.
In November last year, Aled teamed up with Russell Watson – another well-known classical voice who has enjoyed mainstream success – to release their debut album, In Harmony.
The pair will take to the stage together for their first joint UK and Ireland tour throughout September and October, arriving at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday, October 5.
Having moved in the same circles for nearly 20 years, the pair are now firm friends.
Their 14-track album features a wealth of well-loved hymns, arias, and popular songs – ranging from stunning arrangements of Ave Maria to more modern classics such as You Raise Me Up.
He said: “Russell and I have known each other for years, and it’s a very small world, really, the ‘crossover’ – if you like – world.
“We got talking more and more and then one night after a few wines, we were texting one another.
"I sent him a text to congratulate him on being the biggest-selling classical solo artist in Classic FM’s history, and he sent me a jokey text back saying, ‘Yeah, thanks mate, shame it wasn’t you!’
“He said we should do something together and I said, ‘Well funny you should say that because I was mentioning this only yesterday to somebody...’
"Move forward two months and we’re in the studio making an album.”
Internationally renowned composer Sir Karl Jenkins wrote one of the tunes, Bright Horizons, especially for Aled and Russell, while the first single to be released, Where Have All the Flowers Gone/Here’s to the Heroes, is a timely tribute celebrating the centenary of the end of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
Other highlights of the record include Volare, a creative rendition of Dean Martin’s jazzy number, and closing track, Silent Night, which beautifully combines the ethereal tones of the flute with the rich baritone vocals of Aled and Russell’s tenor delivery.
On how they decided which songs were going to ‘make the cut’, Aled said: “It was an easy one in a way because we both had songs that we definitely wanted to put on there, that we do on our own individually.
“Things like How Great Thou Art and You Raise Me Up – they’d never been done as duets before.
"So the thing I’m most proud about with the album – and this will be evident on the tour – is that it’s not just a case of Russ singing a verse, me singing a verse and then that’s it.
"The harmonies are very intricate throughout and it was definitely worth it. It’s an album that I’m very, very proud of.”
Aled added: “The songs were sort of obvious, really, there were no huge battles or anything like that. I think it was two or three emails and it was done.”
The two friends have certainly enjoyed working together.
“It’s very easy. We’re not divas!” said Aled. “There are no egos or anything.”
Cambridge audiences should therefore be in for a treat.
“There will definitely be a few surprises,” said Aled, “and I’m sure they’ll be some songs that Russ will want to do on his own and maybe I’ll do a couple on my own... but the majority of them will be songs that we do together.
“That’s going to be the exciting thing; we’re both used to being on stage on our own but having somebody else to bounce off... there’s never a dull moment when we’re together so I’m very aware that no two shows will be the same, but they will be a lot of fun.
"And it’s not just the music, it’s the anecdotes, the stories...
“The joy of live performance is that you never know what’s going to happen, and I’m quite odd in a way, in that I quite like it when things go wrong!”
But don’t expect to hear Aled’s signature song at the Corn Exchange in October.
“Not on this tour because it’s September and October,” he explained, “but as I get closer to Christmas, no doubt there will be a version of Walking in the Air being performed somewhere in the UK.
"There’s no way I can ever get away with not doing it.
“In Australia, they love hearing it even when it’s not Christmas – I sang it in July once!”
Aled looks back on his time in the spotlight, circa 1985: “It was brilliant.
"I was very lucky, there was no pressure because no one had ever done it before. It was just a case of me, my mum and dad muddling on.
"Everyone treated me fantastically, they were very kind and it was just very exciting.
“Monday to Friday, I was in a comprehensive school and then at the weekend, I could be anywhere all over the world.”
Over the last three decades, Aled has sung for the Pope and the royal family, received an MBE, released more than 30 albums – with more than 10 million album sales and counting – and has more than 40
silver, gold and platinum discs.
Like Aled, Russell has performed for some of the world’s most notable figures including the royal family, the Pope, former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, the Emperor of Japan and in front a of a worldwide audience of one billion at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
Aled Jones and Russell Watson’s In Harmony Tour comes to the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday, October 5, at 7.30pm.
Tickets: £122 (VIP), £58, £42.50, £32.50.
All tickets include a £3 booking fee.
cornex.co.uk.
