The Music of Sarah Brightman

Appreciating the Beautiful Voice of This Lesser Known Talent

The first time I heard Sarah Brightman sing was when a friend introduced me to the original London cast recording of "Phantom of the Opera." Being somewhat ignorant in the ways of any form of music beyond that of the Top 40 at that time, I'd never heard her name, much less her voice. It was however, enough to get me hooked.

With a voice that has a light, childlike quality to it one minute and a matronly operatic soprano tone the next, Sarah Brightman has made her mark on several different aspects of the music world. She got her start in entertaining with a London dance troupe called "Pan's People" and later recorded a disco/techno hit with a mixed dance and singing group called "Hot Gossip." Later, she auditioned for the musical "Cats" and earned the role of Jemima. It was here that she met her future husband, well known composer Andrew Lloyd Weber. Weber would later write the part of Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" especially for Brightman. Though the marriage didn't last, they were still able to work professionally.

In the early 90s, Sarah Brightman jumped aboard the solo bandwagon, choosing to work with Enigma producer Frank Peterson. Since then, she has produced eight albums. Her most recent new album, 2003's "Harem," spawned a world tour, and her most recent collections were released in 2006. "Classics" was the European version of her greatest hits and "Diva" was a collection of her greatest singles. She's also produced several concert DVDs and is working on a new album to be released in 2007.

What makes Brightman stand out from so many other artists is that she can blend her styles into one album and make it work. She also has a flair for bringing different influences into her songs. For instance, "Harem" incorporates a Middle Eastern flair with a dance music feel. In fact, Brightman can do techno music and do it well. Her airy voice works well both with a synthesizer and with the classical musical components of an orchestra. With influences like David Bowie and Pink Floyd, Brightman's music interests are as varied as her musical ability.