Charlotte Church will appear at
the Blaisdell next month.

‘Angel’ descends
on Oahu

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By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com

Charlotte Church shook the classical music world three years ago with the release of her debut album, "The Voice of an Angel." Now the 15-year-old Welsh phenom will make her Hawaii debut at the Blaisdell Arena at 8 p.m. Aug. 11, with the Honolulu Symphony.

Tickets go on sale 9 a.m. Saturday at the Blaisdell box office, Ticket Plus outlets including Foodland markets, Tempo Music and military outlets. Prices are $65 on the floor, risers, loges and lower arena, and $45 for the upper arena. There will be 20 percent discounts for seniors, students and military.

Priority ticket sales are available now via telephone for current Honolulu Symphony subscribers. For advance ticket sales, call 792-2000. Subscribers also receive a 20 percent discount on tickets.

Church was the youngest artist to have a No. 1 album on the British classical chart, and a Top 5 hit on the British album charts. The triumph was echoed in the United States when Church became the youngest soloist to achieve a Top 30 album here. Her first two albums have sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

The Cardiff schoolgirl, the world's most successful soprano, has appeared on dozens of television programs including "Late Night with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Rosie O'Donnell" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Her hit PBS special "Voice of an Angel" was broadcast nationally. Church has sung for the pope at the Vatican; the Clintons in Washington, D.C.; the Superbowl in Atlanta; and the prince of Wales at his 50th-birthday party in London.

Prior to her Honolulu debut, Church will perform with Luciano Pavarotti on Saturday in London's Hyde Park "Picnic in the Park with Pavarotti," on July 18 at the San Diego Symphony's Summer Pops series at Navy Pier, and July 20 and 21 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Born in Llandaff, Cardiff, Church says she's loved music since a small child. By age 8 she was making a name for herself at local karaoke competitions. When she heard the "Richard and Judy" show on TV say they were looking for talented kids, she called and sang "Pie Jesu" and got invited on the show.

This led to more TV performances and concerts.

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