MARION SAUVEBOIS previews music star Russell Watson’s return to The Wyvern

IT feels like he was only serenading crowds yesterday but it’s been close to a year since Russell Watson’s sold-out show at the Wyvern.

After a packed 2015, which saw him travel the length and breadth of the UK, perform at National Memorial Day in Washington DC, the Caracalla Unicef Concert in Rome and BBC Proms In the Park, the nation’s best-selling classical artist of all time is Swindon bound once more with a new tour, Songs from the Heart.

Featuring a stunning collection of our best loved songs, this promises to be an enchanting concert.

Russell’s road to stardom was far from smooth. The tenor left school at the age of 16 with no qualifications and spent the first eight years of his working life in a factory making nuts and bolts.

His desire to escape the monotony of the shop floor led him to enter a local radio talent competition where he beat 400 other contestants. This was his stepping stone to a career that has spanned 15 years and seen him entertain the likes of The Queen, late Pope John Paul II - who requested a private audience at the Vatican - former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the Emperor of Japan, and King of Malaysia.

At the height of his career, Russell was diagnosed with and bravely battled two life-threatening brain tumours to become the godfather of classical crossover.

The four-time Classical BRIT winner has performed at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth games in 2002 - watched by a worldwide audience of one billion - the Queen’s Coronation Gala Festival at Buckingham Palace in 2013, the opening ceremony of the World Games and the Rugby Union World Cup.

He has also notched up many high-profile collaborations with Meatloaf, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Lulu, Alexandra Burke, Sean Ryder and the late Luciano Pavarotti among others.

Unbeknown to most, the versatile singer is the voice behind the iconic Star Trek series Enterprise soundtrack.

As well as a talented performer he is a dedicated campaigner. Over the years he has helped to raise millions of pounds for The Prince’s Trust, the Katy Holmes Trust and The Kirsty Club. He has also backed many appeals including Soccer Aid 2010.

The concert is a unique opportunity to hear The Voice as you have never heard him before.

Russell Watson appears at the Wyvern Theatre tonight at 7.30pm. Tickets start at £35 and are available on 01793 524481 or at swindontheatres.co.uk.