Katherine Jenkins At The Glastonbury Extravaganza - August 7th 2011

Although the weather had taken a rather alarming turn for the worse on Sunday, it failed to dampen the spirits of those who had turned out to see Katherine Jenkins perform the classical finale of the 2011 Extravaganza at Glastonbury Abbey.

While many may have been forced to swap ballgowns for waterproofs, die hard revellers still arrived laden with picnics, chairs and brollies and settled down for the evenings entertainment. The compere announced first of all that Gwyn Evans who was due to be performing, had cancelled due to ill health and would be replaced by tenor Thomas Spencer-Wortley.

The Mendip Male Voice Choir started the proceedings, conducted by Kate Courage and with pianist Carl Speck. This was a rousing performance which included Scarlet Fayre, the Owl and the Pussycat and Luck Be A Lady Tonight. This was the first time I have watched a male voice choir perform and I, along with everyone else it seemed was moved by the depth, clarity and sheer power of their voices. Absolutely beautiful.

The National Symphony Orchestra took to the stage, conducted by Anthony Englis. They launched into a lively waltz, before the star guest appeared, respendent in a purple evening dress. Katherine Jenkins is a very petite woman but her voice is a giant - crisp, crystal clear vocals rang out across the park as she performed Somewhere from West Side Story. She then addressed the crowd, welcoming the Glastonbury Umbrella Convention. She went on to perform Raise Me Up before introducing Thomas Spencer-Wortley to the stage to perform a beautiful melancholy Credere (To Believe). Katherine returned to the stage having changed into a scarlet gown, to continue with This Is My Beloved. The orchestra performed a glorious waltz to which the conductor whirled her around the stage before the interval.

The second half began with Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty; graceful, uplifting, performed to perfection and soon Katherine was back in yet another gown (blue this time) to perform I Will Always Love You in Italian vocals. I Dreamed A Dream was next although in French as it was originally written. She stopped to read out some audience requests and messages, written on an assortment of things including paper picnic plates! These included questions such as 'Do you get scared?' - her reply 'Not anymore' and 'Does Gethyn (Jones) wear pyjamas?' - there was no comment save for a smile and she went on to answer more questions which included many requests for her phone number!

Thomas Spencer Wortley returned to deliver a fantastic Nessun Dorma and My Love written by his brother Oliver Spencer. While announcing that he wasn't the 'person who wears the fancy dresses' he welcomed Katherine back to the stage in her fourth and final dress, a cream ballgown. She performed Hallelujah, the theme from the Godfather (Parla Piu Piano or Speak Softly Love), Jerusalem and the inevitable Land of Hope and Glory, which of course saw a sea of waving union flags in patriotic style. At this point normally, the firework display would have kicked off but alas did not, though Katherine went on to her sing her final piece, Time To Say Goodbye. Still no fireworks and as she left the stage it looked as though people would be packing up and leaving before seeing the finale - a few minutes later the first of the big bangs went off and we were treated to a spectacular display against (at last) rain free skies.

As always, the Extravaganza was a success and despite the slightly rain weary crowd, all who left seemed to have had a thoroughly wonderful time. It is not on next year as the festival organisers take a break, and I, among many are going to miss it for sure.