An Evening of Christmas Classics – Katherine Jenkins (mezzo-soprano), Nathan Pacheco (tenor)

I loved the Brazilian lullaby ‘Sleep Quietly My Jesus’. Ms Jenkins is a star but the beautiful voice (as honey-sweet as her rapport with the audience), the ravishing frocks, the playful banter, all were lost because the volume was so loud. The fine tenor sang thrilling top notes. The professional band (or 30+ orchestra) slipped easily from show tunes to Lloyd-Webber, but ‘Pie Jesu’, a funeral verse, in this programme? My headache just couldn’t cope with pop-concert amplification and I fled when the communal singing began. I listened from the top of the stairs, missing out and feeling like Scrooge.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 13 December 2012
Rating:
Andrew Connal