A new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was revealed a couple of days ago for singer Sarah Brightman.
Sarah Brightman was given this honor because of her contribution to music, especially soprano. She is the world’s biggest-selling soprano. She also pioneered the classical crossover movement and originated the role of Christine Daaé in both the West End and Broadway productions of The Phantom of the Opera.
The ceremony was held on October 6 in front of the Pantages Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. Tony winner Kristen Chenoweth and Emilie Kouatchou along with director Anthony Van Laast were present as Brightman spoke at the ceremony.
Kouatchou plays the role of Daaé in the Broadway Production of the Phantom of the Opera, she was the first black person to play that role. Van Laast was the choreographer of the 2008 concert called Sarah Brightman: Symphony in Vienna.
The ceremony was perfectly timed six days before the three Brightman concerts are lined up in the Venetian theater in Las Vegas.
About receiving a star on the famous hall of fame, Brightman said that it was a “real honor”. She explained that “Especially as I don’t come from America. It’s always lovely when another country observes what you’ve done and wants to show their appreciation for it.”
Interestingly, Brightman said that she often goes unnoticed in her native United Kingdom. She revealed that she lives two parallel lives, which are worlds apart, kind of like Miley Cyrus. In London, she does normal things like getting on the train and running errands and then she flies to the USA where she gets the highest of honors.
More About Brightman
Brightman was singing and dancing since she was just three years old. Things really started happening when she became a part of the dance troupe called Hot Gossip. Brightman said that she knew she had a great voice but it was early for her, so she used to train her voice through Hot Gossip.
After some time, she released two disco singles before deciding to move to the musical theater. She got cast in Cats. Brightman fell in love with its composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and also married him.
Webber cast her as Christine Daaé in the New York and London productions of The Phantom of the Opera. The Americans Actors Equity Association almost stopped her from taking the role as they believed that she had not done enough to deserve the role.
Eventually, after a compromise was reached and she took on the role, it became a roaring success and has played ever since. It is currently Broadway’s longest-running show and will end on February 18, 2023.
After starring in Webber’s Aspects of Love in the early 1990s, she never starred in a stage musical since then. It might have to do with the couple’s divorce. She focused her attention on her recording career and it has paid off pretty well.
She has single-handedly sold over 25 million albums. She is also often credited with creating the classical crossover genre with the likes of Pie Jesu and Time to Say Goodbye.
