Released shortly after the Welsh soprano turned 30, the
Katherine Jenkins compilation
The Ultimate Collection is a good summation of her recording career so far. In that sense, it tends to confirm the impression of her as essentially a blonde, 20-years-younger
Sarah Brightman, to the point of repeating many songs associated with
Brightman, such as "Time to Say Goodbye," "Pie Jesu," and "The Music of the Night." In the classical crossover world of
Brightman and
Jenkins, one takes familiar pop ballads and show tunes and finds ways to suggest that they are to be considered classical music. Thus,
Jenkins sings the
Dolly Parton-penned
Whitney Houston hit "I Will Always Love You" and the theme from
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (written by Bryan Adams,
Michael Kamen, and
Mutt Lange, and a hit for Adams), in Italian, as if they were arias from lost operas. She also takes on show tunes like "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina." And she treats
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" as if it were a sacred hymn. (It isn't, but she's not the first singer to think it is, and for
Cohen, that's made it his most valuable copyright since "Suzanne.") Of course, she also does a few actual classical pieces. From a pop perspective, it seems odd that she re-covers so much oft-covered material. But from a classical perspective, it simply may be that
Brightman has established a classical crossover repertoire, and as with any classical repertoire, each succeeding generation has the right and obligation to reinterpret it. Certainly,
Jenkins' sales indicate that her audience is perfectly happy to hear her sing this crop of recent warhorses, and
The Ultimate Collection puts them on one disc. ~ William Ruhlmann