Sarah Brightman. FRFW Digital Photo.
By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
Songstress Sarah Brightman made headlines last year when she announced she wants to be the first musician to travel to the International Space Station.
As if to make her point, Brightman’s new album “Dreamchaser” is an ode to the beauty and wonderment of space. It combines covers of an eclectic variety of songs including Paul McCartney’s Venus and Mars and a new arrangement of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells called Closer.
“I’m excited to be releasing Dreamchaser,” the British soprano said about her 11-track album. “This album was recorded at a particularly exciting time of my life with a number of new adventures beginning to materialize. The music has been informed by not only my past experiences but also my future aims and aspirations.”
“Dreamchaser” is a collaboration of Brightman (best known for her defining stage role in “Phantom of the Opera” as well as her chart-topping duet with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Time to Say Goodbye), and veteran producer Mike Hedges, known for his iconic work with U2, The Cure and Dido.
The first single, One Day Like This, is a unique interpretation of the British band Elbow’s single.
Brightman also delivers an ethereal version of Sigur Ros’ Glosoli, which features new English lyrics written by Squeeze’s Chris Difford.
“Dreamchaser” marks Brightman’s 11th studio album, following the release of “Symphony,” which was released in 2008 and sold nearly three million units worldwide.
Accompanying the release of the album, Brightman is setting off on a Dreamchaser World Tour. It is set to kick off in China in June, with the North American leg of the tour beginning in September. A complete list of all North American concert dates can be found at sarahbrightman.com/tours.
ABC News reported last year that Brightman had to pay the Russian space agency more than the $51 million NASA budgets on average to send its astronauts to the station. No date has been set for her adventure aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz, though it likely will be in 2014 or 2015.
