Sarah Brightman – ‘Sogni’

What can be said about Sarah Brightman that hasn’t been said before? The world’s most famous soprano, she’s also a very versatile singer who has been able to sing light opera, story-songs written for theatrical productions, throwback disco, contemporary pop, experimental music: she’s excelled at all of it.



Brightman, who starred in Cats and Phantom of the Opera and took “Time to Say Goodbye”, her sterling duet with Andrea Bocelli, to the top of the charts in 1996, put that flexibility on display on Dreamchaser, her acclaimed 2013 full-length. That daring album featured songs by Rimsky-Korsakov and Gorecki alongside material associated with adventurous pop-rock bands Elbow, Sigur Ros, and the Cocteau Twins. It all worked beautifully, of course, and the set drew rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.

‘Hymn’ is Brightman’s latest venture, and once again, Brightman and her producers juxtapose classical pieces with modern sounds, and, as always, her recordings demonstrate that the difference between an aria, a theatrical showstopper, and a pop hit has as much to do with framing and context as it does with composition. Even within the realm of classical music, Brightman takes chances: “Sogni”, her latest single, splices two separate Bizet pieces into a harmonious whole. She’s joined on the track by the French light operatic tenor Vincent Niclo, whose performance matches hers in its intensity and immediate crossover appeal. Niclo makes his presence felt in the gorgeous video for “Sogni”, too. He meets Brightman in a stunning tower plucked from the pages of a romance. The space is adorned with cupid sculptures, large windows with thick wooden frames, and soaring bookshelves stocked with ancient volumes.

Check out Sarah Brightman’s official website for further information about this superstar.

Sarah Brightman - Sogni ft. Vincent Niclo

About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com