Katherine Jenkins dazzles on tour debut

Katherine Jenkins,

Birmingham NIA

All eyes were on Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins at Birmingham's NIA last night.

It was the 29-year-olds first concert on her debut solo stadium tour but there were no nerves as Jenkins dazzled with her beautiful voice.

She effortlessly sang classics including Parla Piu Piano and Caruso and dipped into modern culture with Sara McLaughlin's In the Arms of the Angel and Evanescence's Bring Me To Life.

There was a duet – Lionel Richie and Diana Ross' Endless Love, which she sang with a male partner on stage.

Ms Jenkins, who recently put celebrities through the paces in reality TV show Popstar to Operastar, is fiercely private about her life, including her relationship with former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones.

But as soon as the curtain lifted, the shy Welsh girl disappeared to be replaced with a showgirl. Throughout her performance, Jenkins changed into a dozen sparkling gowns, each one more dazzling than the other.

As well as wowing the crowd with her voice, she was also joined on stage by as group of dancers who added a little colour to the night. There was also some acrobatics above the stage.

Despite her show-stopping voice, the stunning blonde singer performed with effortless grace and style – and thoroughly deserved the standing ovation she received at the end.

The music star had to have a painkilling injection to start her UK tour in Birmingham last night, after being injured while running.

The mezzo-soprano hurt her leg during a workout and doctors gave her an anti-inflammatory infection.

But the 29-year-old showed no sign of the pain while she danced around during the show. The show startedthe singer's 12-date Escala tour across England, Scotland and Wales.

By Laura Blyth