She has been called a child prodigy and an
opera phenomenon. Charlotte Church, a 13-year-old Welsh soprano, is
taking the music world by storm. Her international tour began as her
album was being released in the United States, taking her all over
Europe, Asia and America.
"Voice of
an Angel'' went double platinum in the United Kingdom last year,
where it sold two million copies after just four weeks. It reached
the No. 4 spot on the British pop chart, and rose to the No. 1
classical spot. The album entered the U.S. charts at No. 28 when it
was released by Sony Classical in March.
Her
cornflower-blue eyes sparkle when she considers her recent
engagement schedule. She performed for Queen Elizabeth and Prince
Charles at the opening of the Welsh Assembly; at Prince Charles'
50th birthday celebration in London; and at Pope John Paul II's
Christmas in the Vatican concert. She has an invitation to perform
at the White House on June 13. That's not to say she hasn't been
sobered by stardom. "I thought it was going to be all glamorous
and really easy, and it's not as glamorous as you think, and it's
really, really hard,'' she said.
Her signature
piece is Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu,'' a haunting work
that showcases her confident high notes and lyrical phrasing.
"She sang 'Pie Jesu' for me and I was blown away,'' said
Jonathan Shalit, her manager. "Then I took her to meet the Sony
execs and she sang it; they were blown away. People quickly started
to recognize her for it.''
Schoolwork
comes before interviews, and detention is an option -- even on the
road. So far, it hasn't been a problem. Charlotte studies, performs
-- and laughs a lot. Her sometimes grueling schedule has yet to get
her down. "There are days where it's not hard at all and some
days it can be manic,'' she said. "It just depends on which
day.''
If the travel,
the concerts and the schoolwork don't upset her, interviews can.
"I hate radio interviews,'' Charlotte said. Shalit smiles, then
ducks into a nearby room. He knows what's coming. "They all ask
me the same thing.'' Charlotte crosses her arms, rolls her eyes and
gazes up at the ceiling with an exasperated look. Then she launches
into a typical Q&A with herself.
"So,
Charlotte, how were you discovered?
"I was
discovered when I introduced my Auntie Caroline on television and I
started to sing.
"What kind
of music do you like?
"I like
Will Smith, Puff Daddy, George Michael and Celine Dion.
"What do
your friends back home think of your success?
"Well,
they just think it's wonderful.
"Do you
think you have the voice of an angel?''
At this point,
her legs are crossed, her foot is bouncing, and she's giving her
best "How should I know?'' look. "If I say 'no,' they
think I'm being overly modest. If I say 'yes,' they think I'm
big-headed,'' she explained with a big sigh.
She enjoyed Las
Vegas, where she made her U.S. debut at the annual convention of the
National Association of Recording Merchandisers in March. "It
was amazing. It was really, really fun. We went to see some of the
shows, we saw all the lights and everything. Of course, I couldn't
gamble. I'm underage.''
All the
attention hasn't curbed her teenage tendencies. She likes to shop,
but isn't a fan of Japanese couture. "I couldn't believe the
clothes there,'' she said in her distinctive Welsh accent, as she
described bell bottoms bigger than both her legs and platform shoes
with 8-inch heels. Still, she asked her mother if she could buy the
shoes. The answer was "'No! They're too high,''' recalled
Charlotte, falling into the couch in a peal of laughter.
"People
love the fact she's so normal,'' Shalit said. Charlotte travels with
her mother, Shalit, a singing coach and a tutor. Her father stays
behind in Wales, where he works as a security supervisor.
"I'd love
to sing with Renee Fleming, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, TLC and
Puff Daddy,'' she said. If they ever work together, Puffy -- whose
real name is Sean Combs -- won't have to worry about her behaving
like an opera diva. "I think it's different for a child,'' she
said. "I don't go about thinking 'I'm a diva.' My mother would
kill me, my family would kill me. I don't think I'm like that,
anyway.''
By Stacy
Y. China
