On Air Now
Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor 10pm - 1am
Il Divo: A Musical Affair - an album guide
The mega-selling operatic crossover band's new album takes the biggest hits from the world of musicals on their new record, A Musical Affair.
-
1. Memory
The first of the showbiz guests for Il Divo's new album is former Pussycat Doll and X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger, who lends her soaring vocals to the Lloyd Webber classic Memory, taken from Cats.
-
2. Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Heather Headley guests on this version of Elton John's song from The Lion King, taken from the stage musical version of the popular Disney film. Here they are together (lion costumes not pictured).
-
3. Bring Him Home
There's a huge amount of interest around this beautiful song once again thanks to last year's movie version of Les Misérables, but this version has that typical Il Divo flourishing style, turning it into something quite different yet again.
-
4. Tonight
Il Divo take on Leonard Bernstein here, in a relaxed and romantic version of the busy classic from West Side Story.
-
5. All I Ask Of You
Star of stage and screen Kristen Chenoweth joins the Il Divo boys for another Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, taken from Phantom Of The Opera. She takes the role of Christine, while the other guys all give her ample support singing the part of the Phantom himself.
-
6. Some Enchanted Evening
Taken from South Pacific and the golden age of the Hollywood musical, this delicate number is perfectly suited the charm and style of the Il Divo boys.
-
7. Who Can I Turn To?
Upon its original release back in 1964, the musical 'The Roar of the Grease - The Smell of the Crowd' was not a huge critical hit, but it did spawn this gorgeous song, brought back into the limelight on Il Divo's new album.
-
8. Who Wants To Live Forever?
Originally a much-loved Queen song, Who Wants To Live Forever? reached a different audience when it became part of the Queen musical We Will Rock You. Its gently operatic style and dramatic soundworld are perfectly matched to Il Divo, who give it a right good thrashing here.
-
9. You'll Never Walk Alone
Such an iconic song is always a dicey move, particularly when it means so many different things to so many audiences - and You'll Never Walk Alone most certainly falls under that banner. But Il Divo play it sensitively and soulfully throughout.
-
10. If Ever I Would Leave You
Proving again that they've not just plumped for the hits, this lesser-known song from Camelot is a gem of simplicity. Simple harmonies, crunchy chords in the string arrangement... what's not to like?
-
-
11. Love Changes Everything
Michael Ball guests on this track, and who better? He's perhaps best-known for this song from Aspects Of Love (another Lloyd Webber classic), and the Il Divo boys effortlessly weave their voices in and around Ball's.
-
12. The Music Of The Night
They've saved the biggest guest for last - it's only Barbra Streisand! After she took them on tour with her early in their career, they obviously made an impression - she's back to sing on the closing track here, and what an incredible contribution she makes.
