Premiere Announcement:
Alexandra Burke as you've never seen her before. Lady Sing the Blues at the Royal Albert Hall
25 March, 2013
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: From Tuesday 4 - Saturday 8 June 2013, X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke takes residence in Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room for her own unique concert version of Lady Sings The Blues. Following in the footsteps of her idols Billie Holiday and Diana Ross, Alexandra will perform, with a full jazz band, her own take on the legendary 1972 film soundtrack of the same name.
Starring the queen of Motown, Diana Ross, and nominated for 5 Oscars, Lady Sings the Blues is the classic film and soundtrack that followed the life and career of legendary jazz singer and songwriter Billie Holiday from late childhood to the latter stages of her career and included many of her famous songs. This live concert version, for the first time ever, will revisit this soundtrack as Alexandra and her band put their own spin on these remarkable jazz standards and the life and career of the one of the world’s most cherished performers. Very much in homage to both Billie Holiday and Diana Ross, it seems only fitting that Alexandra performs this show at the Royal Albert Hall nearly 60 years after Billie Holiday made her only appearance at the venue for a special one-off concert in 1954.
Alexandra Burke said, “I am so excited to be performing these concerts in such an iconic venue. It is an honour to be able to sing Billie Holiday's songs and I feel a very strong emotional attachment to them. Music is my life and I love doing different and surprising things, so I can't wait to get on stage and sing these amazing and timeless songs”.
Since emerging as victor of the X Factor in 2008, Alexandra’s career has gone supernova. Her debut single 'Hallelujah', became the Christmas No.1 and the fastest selling single by a female artist in UK chart history. A further two No.1 singles followed, ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Start Without You’, alongside a double platinum No.1 debut album ‘Overcome’, that has to date sold over 2 million copies worldwide. After touring the UK with a string of sell out gigs, Alexandra returned last year with the No.2 single ‘Elephant’ and her second album ‘Heartbreak On Hold’. She recently recorded a cover of ‘Live and Let Die’ for use on The X Factor USA. However, this live concert adaptation is sure to present Alexandra in an entirely different way and as you’ve never seen her before!
The show is produced by Professor Jonathan Shalit who commented "Alexandra Burke is vocally one of the most exceptional young singers I have ever worked with. I am very excited to hear Alexandra’s interpretation of such wonderful songs many of which were performed by Billie Holiday herself at the Royal Albert Hall in 1954".
This event is part of the Royal Albert Hall's More At The Hall series which presents a diverse range of excellent value events outside of the main auditorium including jazz, comedy, classical and world music. The Hall looks to provide memorable visitor experiences for all and, as a charity, these own-promoted events form a part of its extensive public benefit remit.
Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Albert Hall, said “No other artist has held a residency in the Elgar Room but when we heard what Alexandra wanted to do it we simply had to make it happen. Seeing any artist in such an intimate space is an incredible experience but to be able to enjoy Alexandra’s cabaret performance of those incredible songs is going to be a knock-out start to the summer.”
Listings information:
Alexandra Burke - Lady Sings The Blues
Tuesday 4 - Friday 7 June 2013 at 9pm; Saturday 8 June 2013, 10.30pm
Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Tickets £37.50 (booking fees apply)
Box Office 020 7589 8212
www.royalalberthall.com
Tickets on sale Wednesday 27 March at 9am from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office
For further information, please contact: Sean Carrigan, Media Partnerships Executive, Royal Albert Hall: seanc@royalalberthall.com Tel: 020 7959 0531
NOTES TO EDITORS
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breathtaking auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events.
Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers.
The Hall also offers the Elgar Room, a state-of-the-art small-scale performance space which hosts performances of classical music, jazz and world music, comedy, dance and hush, a series of gigs for just signed bands throughout the year. In the main auditorium, it offers the Albert Sessions, an initiative that encourages up and coming acts to play at the Hall by offering reduced rental fees to promoters and lower ticket prices to encourage younger audiences to visit the Hall. It also works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme, reaching over 100,000 participants each year as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It has also been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music education hubs.
For more information, please visit www.royalalberthall.com
Registered charity number: 254543