CLASSICAL-MUSIC audiences seem sadly to have given up on the hero worship which pianists like Liszt enjoyed back in the nineteenth century.

The likes of The Three Tenors certainly changed things, and spawned a number of artists who combine the best of both worlds. Russell Watson is the absolute epitome of this new type of performer, and from the minute he appeared on the stage until the packed audience eventually let him go, he absolutely mesmerised and enthralled everyone present with such a generous mix of Italian songs, arias, modern and old standards, soul, and much more!

He is impeccably packaged, of course, with a band of top session-musicians, fine arrangements, but he comes over exactly as he is off-stage, no airs and graces, exactly like a Mario Lanza, but able to slip in a Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett cover with equal ease! And when there were initial technical problems with the sound, he just made light of this, totally unfazed, a true professional.

Of course Russell has also survived a life-threatening illness, and this has added an almost religious dimension to the tremendous presence he already has. But what you see is what you get, an unassuming working-class bloke, with the gift of a great voice, and which he just wants to share with his listeners. Without a doubt this was the most enjoyable evening I've been to for a very long time – even if it did clash with the Euro 2008 final!