Personnel: Faye Tozer, Lulu, Russel Watson, Shaun Ryder.
Rags-to-riches British tenor vocalist (and former welder) Russell Watson is a serious contender in the classical crossover sphere, a Mario Lanza or Andrea Bocelli for a new generation. Watson explores areas where popular opera, film music, rock, and mellow pop not only overlap but also enrich each other. He possesses a handsomely expressive voice combining impressive natural technique with nuance, warmth, and humor. The program is a truly "modern" one--Watson performs excerpts from operas by Puccini, Verdi, and Franck as well as songs by Queen, Ultravox (whose "Vienna" deserves operatic treatment), and (Italian pop singer) Zucchero.