Russell Watson books a date at the Villa

Hugely successful tenor Russell Watson is coming to the Island in May.

He will be performing at the Villa Marina, Douglas, on Tuesday, May 5 and is being brought to the Isle of Man by Dick Ray, director of Jersey International, who is also responsible for booking The Complete Stone Roses.

Russell, 42, who has twice battled to overcome brain tumours, released his latest album People Get Ready in November last year.

Mr Ray described Russell as a ‘tremendous attraction’ for audiences.

Listen as Dick chats to What Where When’s John Gregory about Russel’s upcoming performance

As the performance will be at the end of his tour a party will be thrown for him in the Island.

Mr Ray said: ‘He is bringing with him the string section of the National Symphony Orchestra to play the operatic material he is doing but he has a core of five black musicians who play the crossover rock and pop stuff.

‘That’s going to be a splendid show. Having worked with him I know the performance he delivers is totally fantastic.’

Previous acts brought over by Jersey International include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Hayley Westenra, Lesley Garrett and top Queen tribute act Killer Queen.

Dick was delighted with all the acts and fondly remembers how, after referring to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as ‘Dame Kiri’ all the time at the request of her management she turned round to him and said ‘Dick, call me Kiri’.

‘I said “thank you ma’am” and we both burst out laughing and then the ice was broken.’

Mr Ray recalls: ‘I would love to get Lesley Garrett back but she is playing the lead in Carousel in the Savoy Theatre in London with a six-month contract and with an option of another six months so her manager said: “Don’t talk to me for six months!”.’

He said Hayley was ‘so demure, she is the girl next door. You would never think she could sing like that but then she opens her mouth and that beautiful sound comes out’.

Russell, who has sold millions of records worldwide, is a former factory worker from Salford.

It was only when he entered a local radio talent competition, beating 400 other hopefuls, he decided to pursue his passion of music.

He spent the next few years completing his musical apprenticeship in the North West’s working men’s clubs.

His big break came in May 1999 when he was invited to Old Trafford to sing before Manchester United’s Premiership-winning match. His performance of the World Cup anthem Nessun Dorma received a standing ovation.

The sports theme has stayed with Russell and in 2002 he was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in front of a worldwide television audience of one billion people.

Russell was signed by The Decca Music Group to a five-album deal in September 2000 and his debut recording The Voice was released to huge critical and public acclaim.

He is a multiple Classical Brit Award winner and he has performed in front of world leaders and royalty.

In 2006 he released The Ultimate Collection, a compilation of his greatest hits, which debuted at number two in the national album charts.

In the same year he embarked on a new challenge in the form of BBC television’s smash hit show Just the Two of Us. Partnered with UK TV actress Sian Reeves (Cutting It, Holby City, Where the Heart Is) the two of them sang their way to an overwhelming victory on the show.

A hugely popular singer, his performance on May 5 should turn out to be another unmissable night at the Villa. Tickets, from £45, are available from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Douglas, by ringing the ticket hotline on 694555 and online at www.villagaiety.com

Source: Isle of Man Today