Excitement mounts over Russell Watson visit

Friday, June 18, 2010, 15:10
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Excitement is mounting ahead of opera sensation Russell Watson’s first ever visit to Hartlepool this weekend.

The international star, known as The Voice, has performed for the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, Pope and Prince Charles at Windsor Castle, and the US President George W Bush.

But on Saturday night he will entertain a sell-out audience when he appears alongside Hartlepool Male Voice Choir at the Borough Hall.
Devotees from all over the country will join local fans for the celebrity concert.

Most of the 850 tickets were snapped up within the first 10 days.

Duncan Graham, chairman of Hartlepool Male Voice Choir, said: “We are very excited about it. It is a mixture of apprehension and excitement, but we are confident it will go well and it will be a good audience.

“I have spoken to his tour manager this week and he said they are looking forward to coming.”

The tenor, who has sold millions of records worldwide, will perform several solo songs in the concert and the 60-strong choir will join him for four numbers.

Hartlepool Male Voice Choir staged their first celebrity concert with Songs of Praise presenter Aled Jones last year to mark their golden anniversary.

The agency they dealt with sent the choir a list of performers available which featured Russell.

Duncan added: “I saw him at The Sage in Gateshead and he was fantastic.
“I thought the chances of getting him would be slim, but you never know until you try.

“When the opportunity came up we grabbed it with both hands and we are very pleased.

“We have got people coming from all over including Manchester and Edinburgh to see him.

“Most of the tickets sold out in the first week and a half. If the venue had been any bigger I’m sure it would have sold.”

Russell, who bounced back from a life-threatening back brain tumor in 2007, got his big break in 1999 when he sang the World Cup anthem Nessun Dorma at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground

Source: Hartlepool Mail

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3 Comments on “Excitement mounts over Russell Watson visit”

Linda wrote on 20 June, 2010, 20:06
‘Cannot wait to see Russell next weekend in Leeds.
Marion wrote on 21 June, 2010, 7:37
What a fantastic night! My Dad, Henry, singing with Russell Watson! What a wonderful Father’s Day – for me! The venue, the Hartlepool Borough Hall, was just perfect, full to capacity, but small enough to be so very special. My Mum and I had such a lovely time, Mum was waving at Dad, I was waving at Russell! (even though they couldn’t see us cos we were at the back!) Please come back and sing with my Dad again!!!! (Dad, if you read this, my favourite song was the South Pacific one!) Hello also to the two lovely men who travelled with Russell!
Karen wrote on 16 July, 2010, 18:14
My Dad is also in the choir and sang with Russell. This was the BEST concert I’ve been to yet. The choir was outstanding and it was ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS to hear them singing with Russell. What a fabulous, pure voice and such an engaging sense of humour. Russell was singing and waving to all his followers and after the concert, he spoke to us and allowed us to take photographs. I believe he asked to be invited back next year. I hope that’s true! If it is, my husband, myself and my sister-in-law will be there to hear ‘the voice’ once again. This was entertainment at its VERY best. Roll on the next time.