Published at 11:37, Thursday, 31 May 2012

The dazzling mezzo soprano can sell out the Royal Albert Hall and has performed all over the world but she has chosen to return to Whitehaven on the Friday night of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend.

And the town can consider itself in good company, because the day after the harbourside concert, the 31-year-old will sing the National Anthem before the Queen in front of a crowd of over 125,000 at the Epsom Derby.

The multi-platinum selling star told The Whitehaven News she genuinely cannot wait to return. “I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “I did have an amazing time last time I came, it was a really special concert and one that I will never forget. I was touched when I got the invitation to return.”

Katherine first performed in Whitehaven in 2010 in a moving performance which closely followed the June 2 shootings. The soprano chose to honour the victims with an emotional performance of Sarah McLachlan’s Angel. “Of course it was a terrible time, I remember being aware of that,” she said. “But I just felt that the festival was a brilliant way of uniting people. Seeing the setting of the harbourside and the sun came out, it was so pretty. It was one of those things – I felt I’m glad I’m part of this.”

This Friday’s concert will see the Welsh star joined by the National Symphony Orchestra with Anthony Inglis conducting.

“It will be a mix of classics and pop songs,” said Katherine. “It’s about the music but I also love to have a bit of fun and banter with the audience and hopefully bring a bit of glamour with the frocks.”

She promises at least four different specially-made dresses for her night in Whitehaven. “I work with a stylist and we do it together, coming up with colour schemes,” she said.

As well as travelling the UK on tour with the National Symphony Orchestra, Katherine also enjoys entertaining British troops with morale-boosting concerts – and when not working she simply loves to be normal. “It’s good to have some normality in life, be with friends and family, take my godson to the park, do some cooking.”

Tickets cost £49 from www.the whitehaven festival.co.uk, Threads, 16 King Street, Whitehaven (01946 690008) and Richardson’s, Lowther Street, Whitehaven (01946 65334).

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk