Michael Ball - Latest News Archives

PAST AND PRESENT DVD - DUE FOR RELEASE 23 NOVEMBER 2009
Michael's new DVD, which was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London will be released on 23 November 2009.

MICHAEL SUPPORTS THE SHOOTING STAR CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
Michael is pleased to be supporting The Shooting Star Childern's Hospice. More information on how you can help can be found at http://www.shootingstar.org.uk

TOUR DATES SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009
Sat 12 September - OXFORD APOLLO THEATRE
Sun 13 September - BRISTOL COLSTON HALL
Tue 15 September - BIC BOURNEMOUTH
Wed 16 September - PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL
Fri 18 September - ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Sat 19 September - ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Mon 21 September - NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CENTRE
Tue 22 September - SHEFFIELD CITY HALL
Thu 24 September - LIVERPOOL ARENA
Sat 26 September - NIA BIRMINGHAM
Sun 27 September - BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE
Tue 29 September - GLASGOW CLYDE AUDITORIUM
Wed 30 September - EDINBURGH USHER HALL
Fri 02 October - NEWCASTLE CITY HALL
Sat 03 October - MANCHESTER APOLLO
Mon 05 October - IPSWICH REGENT
Tue 06 October - BRIGHTON CENTRE
Thu 08 October - CARDIFF CIA
Fri 09 October - PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS

MICHAEL'S NEW ALBUM PAST AND PRESENT - THE VERY BEST OF MICHAEL BALL RELEASED 9 MARCH 2009

Michael Ball, Britain’s leading musical theatre star, multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier Award winner celebrates 25 years in music and theatre in 2009. To honour this auspicious occasion, Universal Music are to release an outstanding collection of favourite songs and newly recorded tracks titled Past and Present – The Very Best Of Michael Ball on March 9th.

Some of Michael’s best known songs are included on the album which spans an incredible career in the worlds of theatre and music; from his West End debut in Les Miserables in 1985 to his Olivier Award winning performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, this absolute must-have collection also features six brand new recordings from Kismet, Hairspray and An Evening With Michael Ball at the BBC Proms in 2007.

The album opens with The Impossible Dream, a great favourite with concert goers and taken from the Broadway production and film Man From La Mancha. It’s the first time Michael’s ever recorded it. And at last record buyers will be able to have their own copy of the brand new and only recording of Michael and the West End cast of Hairspray performing You Can’t Stop The Beat, the showstopping finale that always gets the audience dancing.

Other new recordings include This Is My Beloved/Stranger In Paradise from Kismet in which Michael made his 2007 debut with the ENO in the leading role as Hajj/The Poet – and for which he garnered universal critical acclaim. He sang This Is My Beloved in the show – here he ‘steals’ the lyrical, romantic Stranger In Paradise sung in the opera/show/film by the Prince.

The Prayer is the duet performed by Michael and the Olivier Award winning actress and singer, Laura Michelle Kelly onstage at the Royal Albert Hall in June 2007 at An Evening With Michael Ball at the BBC Proms – it was the first time an entire evening had been given to a non-classical singer in the history of the Proms. The song won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for Carole Bayer Sager who wrote it for the 1998 animated film Quest For Camelot.

Michael’s many West End and Broadway credits are represented here; from his 1985 debut as Marius in Les Miserables he sings the beautiful Empty Chairs, Empty Tables (which he recently performed on ITV’s South Bank Show Awards), All I Ask Of You (1986) from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera and Love Changes Everything (1989) Michael’s chart topping song from Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love in which Michael starred in the West End and on Broadway. Two of Michael’s concert favourites are Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard and the Rice/Lloyd Webber composition Gethsamene from the 1972 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar which appears on Michael’s 1999 album, Live At The Albert Hall.

The Boy From Nowhere, from the 1991 musical Matador was originally recorded for Michael’s ‘Centre Stage’ album in 2001; Tell Me It’s Not True is from Willy Russell’s enduring musical, Blood Brothers, while This Is The Moment, another of Michael’s fans’ favourites, is taken from the Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde and The Winner Takes It All from Mamma Mia was originally written and recorded by Abba for their 1980 Super Trouper album.

Garth Brooks’ lyrical pop song, If Tomorrow Never Comes was originally recorded by Michael for his 2000 album, ‘This Time It’s Personal’, and Freddie Mercury’s dramatic, poignant The Show Must Go On is a massive favourite at Michael’s concerts. Michael’s 1992 Eurovision entry, One Step Out Of Time, was recorded live and his own composition, Just When, was originally recorded for his ‘This Time It’s Personal’ album.

One of Michael’s favourite American composers is the legendary Stephen Sondheim from whose huge canon of work Michael has chosen to record Loving You from the musical Passion, Being Alive from the underrated 1972 musical, Company and the glorious ballad Not While I’m Around from Sweeney Todd which is actually sung by the lead character, Mrs Lovett, and most recently performed by Helena Bonham Carter in the movie. Michael swears he didn’t wear one of Edna’s dresses when he recorded this one…

MICHAEL BALL on 25 years of music and theatre:

“It’s a milestone and a celebration,” says Michael. “I really think that if you can still be doing this after 25 years, it’s worth celebrating!

“I’m lucky that a lot of what I’ve done has been recorded so I’ve got a catalogue of 25 years of work going right back to Les Mis. It’s been lovely to be able to record music from Hairspray and Kismet for the first time too – and I persuaded the whole Hairspray cast to come and record ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’ which I think is everyone’s favourite song from the show.

“Getting my own Prom in 2007 was a career highlight – it was an amazing evening. Laura Michelle Kelly joined me onstage at the Royal Albert Hall to sing ‘The Prayer’ so I invited her to come and record it with me for the album. I’ve also recorded ‘Being Alive’, a great number by Stephen Sondheim – it’s the hardest song I’ve ever sung but it’s a great number; I’ve also recorded my first ever audition song, ‘The Impossible Dream’ from ‘Man Of La Mancha’…I’ve had lots of requests to record it so here it is!

“Every song on this album represents a major memory for me. Every time you open in a show, every time you create a new character, it’s a career highlight. The obvious ones are Les Mis, Phantom, Aspects of Love, Passion; the Proms, winning the Olivier and the whole Hairspray experience has been the best of my life. Appearing on Broadway for the first time, singing at the Sydney Opera House, the millennium concert in Kuala Lumpar, Windsor Castle – all these amazing places you get to perform in. And I love doing my radio show! This last year has, without question, been the busiest and most varied of my entire career. Who’d have thought a big fat housewife from Baltimore would be my soulmate!

“So I find myself after 25 years never happier, more fulfilled and more stretched. And thanks to Universal I can carry on making records of a first class quality with fantastic musicians.”

Michael won the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Actor In A Musical with his superb performance as the lovable, supersized Edna Turnblad in the hit West End production of Hairspray in which he stars until the end of July 2009. Michael has won critical acclaim and the hearts of a fiercely loyal public with his numerous performances in West End and Broadway shows; his solo recording career has had parallel success earning him chart toppers and gold and platinum discs while his regular concert tours sell out within hours of going on sale. Since April 2008 Michael has been hosting his own weekly BBC Radio 2 show – Michael Ball’s Sunday Brunch – which airs from 11am to 1pm every Sunday.

The Impossible Dream
Hairspray - You Can't Stop the Beat
Being Alive
The Prayer - Duet with Laura Michelle Kelly
Kismet - This is my Beloved / Stranger in Paradise
Gethsemane
Love Changes Everything
Empty Chairs, Empty Tables
All I Ask of You
The Boy from Nowhere
Loving You
Sunset Boulevard
This is the Moment
Tell Me it's not True
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Not While I'm Around
The Winner Takes it All
Just When
One Step out of Time (Live)
The Show Must Go On

MICHAEL PLAYING EDNA IN "HAIRSPRAY" AT THE SHAFTESBURY THEATRE

Michael is currently starring as Edna Turnblad in the musical “Hairspray”. The show is on at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End. Tickets can be obtained from:

Telephone Bookings: 0207 379 5399
Online: www.keithprowse.com
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
A £2 Booking Fee applies

MICHAEL BALL HAIRSPRAY HOLIDAY DATES:

Monday 28 April - Monday 5 May 2008 - back on stage Tuesday 6 May 2008
Monday 30 June - Monday 7 July 2008 - back on stage Tues 8 July 2008
Monday 15 September - Monday 22 September 2008 - back on stage Tues 23 September 2008

From 28 April 2008 Michael will no longer perform on Monday evenings
He is currently scheduled to perform until Saturday 25 October 2008

The official website can be found at www.hairspraythemusical.com

ONE VOICE ONE SPECIAL NIGHT - LIVE - ORDER NOW FROM AMAZON

Michael's brand new DVD "One Voice One Special Night - Live", recorded earlier this year at the Hammersmith Apollo is yours to own from 19 November 2007. Order now from Amazon by clicking the image above.

BACK TO BACHARACH - RELEASED 22 OCTOBER 2007

MICHAEL BALL’s beautiful new cd, Michael Ball - Back To Bacharach, is an impressive choice of classic tunes from the legendary composer’s outstanding canon of work. Back To Bacharach reflects Michael’s personal favourites and catapults him into a new musical direction. Listen to the soundclips above.

“I’ve recorded a few Bacharach songs over the years and performed some in concert and always felt they suited me,” says Michael. “I love the stories, and the lyrics (many by Hal David) have always struck a chord with me, especially on the more serious numbers. Bacharach has such a brilliant ear for melody and his music has a completely timeless feel to it; I thought it would be great to do a whole album of his music and to record with a full orchestra and big band which is something I hadn’t done before. I thought it was also time I made a sort of ‘late night’ album with sophisticated arrangements – and he’s definitely the king of all that!”

The result is a cool, sophisticated album – a departure for Michael whose multi-platinum award winning albums have seen him move through rock, soul, movie themes, classic pop songs and sweet ballads. These are songs that are extraordinarily well crafted pop songs, classics of their time that have stood the test of time and that have retained their coolability, their fashionable status and their musical credibility.

MICHAEL EXTENDS HIS RUN AS EDNA IN "HAIRSPRAY" AGAIN - NOW UNTIL 25 JULY 2009
Michael is delighted to be extending his run in Hairspray again and can now be seen playing the role of Edna until 25 July 2009. Booking details are as follows:

Telephone Bookings: 0207 379 5399
Online: www.keithprowse.com
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
A £2 Booking Fee applies

Michael does not appear on Monday evenings. He will be taking holiday between 9-16 March, returning on Tuesday 17 March; also 4-11 May, returning on Tuesday 12 May 2009. He will also not be appearing on Saturday 27 June 2009

MICHAEL BALL'S LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS - WEST WYCOMBE PARK - 27 JUNE 2009
Michael will be performing at an outdoor picnic style concert at the West Wycombe Live Music Festival 2009.

Tickets are now on sale at www.michaelballslastnightoftheproms.co.uk or www.westwycombelive.co.uk - where you can also find more information about the concert.

Full ticket price £36.
Under 12s price £18
Children Under 6, no charge.

MICHAEL WINS THE OLIVIER AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
At the Olivier Awards on March 9th held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London Michael Ball topped a glittering year by winning the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical for his critically acclaimed role as Edna Turnblad in the smash West End musical, HAIRSPRAY, which also won the award for Best New Musical.

“It is truly something I’ve wanted all my life,” says Michael. “It’s the greatest theatrical honour you can receive and it really is a dream come true. I see it as the culmination of 25 years of doing this job and I’m thrilled beyond words…although I would have preferred Best Actress!”

Michael paid tribute to his fellow cast members, Leanne Jones (who won Best Actress in a Musical) and Tracie Bennett (who won for Best Supporting Role in a Musical): “Being in Hairspray has been the most wonderful experience; the cast is fabulous, we all have a great time and it just seems wrong to be having such a good time and calling it work!”

KISMET

English National Opera announces that Michael Ball will perform the role of Hajj/Poet in the new production of Robert Wright & George Forrest's KISMET. Based on themes of Alexander Borodin and the play by Edward Knoblock, the book is by Charles Lederer & Luther Davies. This is the first new West End production for almost 30 years.

Michael Ball is Britain's foremost musical performer and has won acclaim for his numerous starring roles on Broadway, London's West End as well as on stage, screen and television. Productions include Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love and Passion. He has performed with Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett and New York City Opera.

This new production of Kismet will be conceived in collaboration with an inspired group comprising Luther Davis (one of the original team for Kismet), director Gary Griffin and writer and performer Kit Hesketh-Harvey. Kismet premiered in 1953 and was a hit on Broadway and an even bigger hit in London, where it played at the Stoll Theatre.

ENO welcomes Gary Griffin, Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Company, Chicago and of the Lincoln Center's 'Encore' Series. His production of Pacific Overtures at London’s Donmar Warehouse received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production. He made his Broadway debut in 2005 with the musical version of The Color Purple.

Wright & Forrest's Kismet is an eclectic choice to suit ENO's abilities and resources, with special emphasis on the Chorus. Based on themes including Borodin's Prince Igor, the symphonic score incorporates a string of great numbers, a major dance element and requires a blend of performance styles from musicals and opera to carry off its stratospheric vocal demands. This makes Kismet ideally suited to an opera ensemble and to a stage such as that of the London Coliseum, the premier venue for big American musicals in the 1940s and 1950s.

To meet the specific demands of the score with its mix of classical and Broadway styles, ENO has engaged two conductors, Richard Hickox, Music Director Opera Australia and, as Musical Associate, Simon Lee, conductor of On the Town.The designer is Ultz, who created the stunning set for The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, which opened ENO's 2005/06 Sky & Artsworld Season.

For the first time ENO has scheduled a consecutive run of performances.

19 PERFORMANCES ONLY: Reduced price previews 25, 26 June. Performances 27 June - 14 July 2007.

Tickets can be obtained from:
0870 145 0900 www.eno.org

REPTON SCHOOL – SUNDAY 8 JULY 2007
As part of the Repton School Summer Picnic Series, Michael will be performing at an outdoor concert at Repton School, Repton, Derby DE65 6FH, on Sunday 8 July 2007.

Tickets are priced: £27.50 plus booking fee
Booking Line: 0870 400 0688
Website: www.livenation.co.uk/repton

FAENOL FESTIVAL - 26 AUGUST 2007
Michael will be performing with Bryn Terfel and other guests including Ruthie Henshall at the Faenol Festival on Sunday 26 August 2007. This festival takes place in the magnificent setting of the Faenol Estate, Near Bangor in North Wales.

Tickets, priced at £38.50 for reserved seating or £28 for the grass area, can be booked by telephone on 01492 872000 - more details can be found on the official website at http://www.brynfest.com

BBC PROMS – ROYAL ALBERT HALL, MONDAY 27 AUGUST 2007
Michael is to appear at one of the BBC Proms concerts this year. Here is the booking information:

Advance Booking
By post and online – opens Monday 14 May
Use the Advance Booking Form in the Proms Guide (available in bookshops from April 27) or visit www.bbc.co.uk/proms. To take advantage of the Advance Booking period – and enjoy your best chance of securing the seats you want – you must use the official Advance Booking Form in the BBC Proms Guide or the Online Ticket Request system on the Proms website. All postal and online bookings received before Monday 14 May will be treated as if they had arrived on that date and Express Bookings will then be handled first (see Proms Guide or website for details). Please note that bookings will not be accepted by fax.

Postal address: BBC Proms, Box Office, Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 2AP

Online booking: www.bbc.co.uk/proms

General Booking:
In person, by phone or online – opens Monday 11 June
The Royal Albert Hall Box Office is located at Door 12 and is open 9.00am–9.00pm daily. Note that no booking fee applies to tickets bought in person at the Hall.

Telephone: 020 7589 8212

PROMMING ON THE DAY
Don’t book, just turn up. Up to 1,400 standing places are available for each concert at the Royal Albert Hall, roughly 900 in the Arena and 500 in the Gallery. You are not
able to pre-book these tickets and therefore all spaces are unreserved.
Tickets priced at just £5 each go on sale 30 minutes before doors open and
it's strictly one ticket per person, payable in cash only.

WHEELCHAIR SPACES
Wheelchair access is available at the RAH but we advise advance booking (from 14 May) in all seated areas to ensure getting the desired space. There are up to 14 spaces bookable in the stalls and 6 in the front circle – prices for these will be published in the Guide and online. These are bookable using the Proms Guide booking form or online. In addition, four wheelchair spaces are available in the Gallery (at the top) for Promming - these cannot be prebooked.

If you need any further information on facilities for disabled concert-goers (including car parking) you can call the Access Information Line on 020 7838 3110. Dedicated staff are available daily from 9am to 9pm on this number. The Access leaflet is also available from the Hall's website at www.royalalberthall.com.

OPEN AIR CONCERT - THE EMBANKMENT, PETERBOROUGH - 1 SEPTEMBER 2007

Michael, along with special guests, will be performing songs from the West End shows at
The Embankment, Peterborough on Saturday 1st September 2007

Ticket Prices
- Adult tickets booked before the 15th June are offered at £24.00.
- Adult tickets booked on 15th June onwards are £28.00.
- Child tickets (5-16) £12.00
- Under 5's free of charge

Call for tickets on 0870 842 2230 or online from:
http://www.easternbreeze.co.uk/

ONE VOICE/BEST OF MICHAEL BALL LIVE

Michael Ball, the UK's top musical theatre star, had a brand new album released through Universal Music on October 30th. 'ONE VOICE' features some of Michael's favourite rock songs of all time. Tracks include 'Since You've Been Gone', the Rainbow classic, 'Lyin' Eyes' the Eagles' all time favourite and REM's 'Everybody Hurts'.

Track Listing:
One Voice (originally by Barry Mannilow)
Hero (originally by Mariah Carey)
The Living Years (originally by Mike & The Mechanics)
Where Do I Begin (originally by Andy Williams from the film Love Story)
Since You've Been Gone (originally by Rainbow)
I Don't Wanna Talk About It
I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing (originally by Aerosmith)
If You're Not The One (originally by Daniel Beddingfield)
Lyin' Eyes (originally by The Eagles)
Everybody Hurts (originally by R.E.M.)
Home (originally by Michael Boublè)

COMMENTS FROM MICHAEL ABOUT "ONE VOICE"

One Voice (Barry Manilow, 1979)
Barry Manilow's such a great writer; he absolutely gets his melodies and lyrics to move an audience and as such has inspired a lifelong devoted following. I completely agree with this too - that music brings people together - and when I was thinking of a concept and title for this album, this song sprang out at me. I loved the idea of tracking my voice and making a choir out of it - the song has huge range which starts off a capella before the full orchestra sweeps in. It's about metaphorical harmony, about how we all need to live in harmony and that's something else I totally believe in.

Hero (Mariah Carey 1993)
After the July 7 bombs in London last year I was watching footage of all the people who'd put their lives at risk, real people who got stuck straight in trying to help in any way they could; a friend of mine was on the Kings Cross train, she took some footage on her mobile which was used on a news programme and over it they played this beautiful song by Mariah Carey. Listening to the lyrics it just struck me as a life affirming, powerful song - simple but meaningful.

The Living Years (Mike and the Mechanics 1988)
This has always been a favourite song of mine - it was written by BA Robertson and Mike Rutherford and sung by the fantastic Paul Carrack. It's a song that everyone can relate to - we've all been in conflict with our parents, we've all made mistakes, argued, slammed the door and then regretted it afterwards. And although there will always be a generational gulf, once they're gone it's too late to try and build bridges. It's brilliantly written and expresses sadness as well as hope.

Where Do I Begin (Andy Williams 1970)
This song is just beautiful from an equally beautiful film that I love and makes me cry every time. It's such a romantic song - just imagine someone singing it about you.

Since You've Been Gone (Rainbow 1979)
I always look for songs that make people say, 'no way has he covered that!'. This is outstanding, theatrical, bombastic rock; I loved the idea of doing it by keeping the heavy rock element but bringing in a string section so that there's a tongue-in-cheek opening with the string section doing a sort of Bach opening before it goes into all-out rock mode. I want everyone to join in the chorus - and I do like surprising people and hopefully getting away with it!

I Don't Wanna Talk About It (Rod Stewart, 1975)
Rod Stewart did this on his 'Atlantic Crossing' album and then it was done by Everything But the Girl in 1988; it's a classic pop song and I wanted to make it small and intimate and heartfelt.

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing (Aerosmith 1998)
I love the old power ballads and the thought of covering an Aerosmith song. This is very much my kind of song - written by Diane Warren it's big, powerful and shoots straight from the heart. Love it.

If You're Not The One (Daniel Bedingfield 2002)
I really think this is a classic of its generation - it's one of the best written pop songs I've ever heard, brilliantly crafted and arranged. I thought Daniel Bedingfield's original performance of it was wonderful and I couldn't resist trying it with my voice. His voice is very high and very different from mine - in recording it for this album I used my falsetto which I don’t do very often.

Lyin' Eyes (The Eagles 1975)
I love the Eagles; I recorded 'Desperado' on my last album ('Music'). This was Tim Rice's idea -I ran into him just after we’d both bought tickets to the Eagles show at Twickenham and mentioned that I was thinking of doing another Eagles song - he said 'you've got to do Lyin' Eyes, it's a great story about heading for the cheatin' side of town!' so I did - they played it at the gig, which was absolutely amazing, so here it is.

Everybody Hurts (REM 1992)
This is the one I was most nervous about recording because how do you do an REM song and do something different. We all hit times in our lives when we're very low and we think we're the only ones feeling pain and we just can't go on. Then we realise that everyone feels like that at some stage and that we can help each other. I've known people I love who've been in that place and I've tried to help them and to be honest, I've been there myself. I just wanted to do my version of it because it means so much to me.

Home (Michael Buble 2005)
I was in the US for so long last year and I was lonely - it's so well written for someone who does this job - we're absolutely blessed, travelling, meeting people, seeing the world - but there are times when you just want to be at home. When you're away for a long time you get lonely, you feel insecure, you don't belong and you don't feel rooted - you start to feel it's all going on at home and you can't be part of it. But it makes the going home so much better! And I hate the telephone; I'd rather see people in person and can't bear emails - they're useful but they have no emotion. It's the nuances in a conversation that are more important that the words themselves.

Click here for exclusive audio and video clips from One Voice

MICHAEL TO TOUR UK IN MARCH/APRIL 2007

Monday 12 March - Belfast Waterfront Hall
Tuesday 13 March - Belfast Waterfront Hall
Friday 16 March - Newcastle City Hall
Saturday 17 March - Blackpool Opera House
Sunday 18 March - Liverpool Empire
Tuesday 20 March - Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Wednesday 21 March - Sheffield City Hall
Friday 23 March - Bristol Colston Hall
Saturday 24 March - Brighton Centre
Sunday 25 March - Portsmouth Guildhall
Tuesday 27 March - Plymouth Pavillions
Wednesday 28 March - Bournemouth BIC
Saturday 31 March - Hammersmith Apollo
Sunday 1 April - Birmingham NEC
Monday 2 April - Oxford New Theatre
Wednesday 4 April - Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Thursday 5 April - Edinburgh Usher Hall
Saturday 7 April - Manchester Apollo
Sunday 8 April - Scarborough Futurist
Monday 9 April - Northampton Derngate
Tuesday 10 April - Northampton Derngate
Thursday 12 April - Ipswich Regent
Saturday 14 April - Cardiff CIA

Tickets available from www.livenation.co.uk/michaelball

MUSIC
Michael Ball, Britain's leading musical star and multi-platinum recording artist cd‘ MUSIC’ was released through Universal Music TV on October 17th 2005. The twelve track album, which takes its title from John Miles’ seminal mega hit of 1976, features some of Michael’s favourite pop songs from the last thirty years – David Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars’, for instance, is a key number in Michael’s solo shows, Alone Together, most recently performed acoustically at London’s Haymarket Theatre. Here the song is treated to a lush orchestral arrangement over which Michael’s powerful voice soars.

‘Fields Of Gold’ is a double homage: in part to Sting, one of Michael’s favourite artists and to Eva Cassidy whom Michael feels recorded the definitive version of this beautiful song. Simon & Garfunkel are represented by the classic ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ which benefits from a simple, contemporary arrangement and vocal treatment; and the powerhouse ‘The Show Must Go On’, one of Michael’s all-time favourite songs and a smash hit with his live concert audience is also a poignant nod to the memory of the great Freddie Mercury.

Ever keen to expand his musical repertoire and to challenge his voice, Michael has diversified on this album with the bossa nova-tinged ‘And I Love You So’ which features a stripped down arrangement and some cool piano. Michael co-wrote a new song, ‘I Am Loved’ which appears as the penultimate track on the album before he gives full rein to his superb voice on a magnificent rendering of the title track.

MUSIC (John Miles, 1976):
John Miles’ seminal record of 1976 was in the charts forever. Anyone who loves music like I do is drawn to this song because it says really simply – “music is my first love/and it will be my last/to live without my music/would be impossible to do/in this world of trouble/my music pulls me through”. It’s a sentiment I firmly believe in and I think most people who care about music and who are passionate about music believe it has an extraordinary power over people.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON (Queen 1991)
This is one of my favourite songs on the album and one of my favourite songs of all time. What Freddie Mercury and Queen were always able to do was that marriage between theatricality and pop. Obviously this song was done towards the end of Freddie’s life but any of us who work in the theatre business can totally empathise with the lyrics – that whatever happens, the show must go on, no matter how you feel, no matter how bad it is, the show must go on, and it costs, and it’s painful.

This is such a cathartic song to perform. It’s brilliantly written. We’ve got a string section going through it so it’s got a James Bond/John Barry kind of feel with the strings and the way they swoop and swirl and stab. Of all the more powerful songs I think I’m most proud of this one – I really think we’ve made it our own rather than just made a copy of it.

FIELDS OF GOLD (Sting, 1993)
I’m a big Sting fan, I’ve met him a couple of times, once backstage at Hammersmith just before one of his shows. There he was, in his pants, doing yoga and he had a bit of a sore throat, and asked me if I had any tips for warming up the voice; well, I don’t know any so I basically invented a warmup on the spot, did a few vocal exercises with him and by the time he went onstage he was completely hoarse! For me the definitive version of ‘Fields Of Gold’ is by Eva Cassidy. We played her version on the Friday after the bombs and it was very poignant and very provocative; it’s a beautiful song.

YOU RAISE ME UP (Secret Garden, 2001)
I first heard this song recorded by one of my best mates, Brian Kennedy, who recorded it for Secret Garden and it’s got this wonderful Irish/Celtic feel to it and Brian said you’ve got to record it this would be great for you then Josh Groban recorded it and the fans were always asking me to record it so I started putting it into my concert tours as the final encore and it had such an effect on people, as well as me, that I thought I’d like to record it. It’s one of those beautiful anthemic songs. It’s either profoundly spiritual or profoundly personal, it can be you singing to the person who’s been by your side and who’s been helping you or to a higher power – it can be taken on many different levels, but no one could fail to empathise and connect with it.

EVERLASTING LOVE (Love Affair, 1969)
It’s just one of those songs isn’t it! It’s just a lovely feelgood song which I recently added to my concert repertoire. The fan club had suggested it which was weird because I was already thinking about doing it. It was a massive hit for Love Affair and although I don’t remember it first time around I’ve heard it a lot over the years on the radio. It’s a cracking number and we tried to re-create that live feel in the studio.

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (Simon & Garfunkel 1970)
I was very nervous about doing this song – in fact I’m nervous about doing a lot of these songs! – because they’ve been done by such brilliant artists and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ is an absolute classic. I perform it onstage but for this album I wanted to try and do something different with it. Rather than belt it out, I’ve recorded it in a much more intimate style, it’s as if I’m singing quietly into someone’s ear, keeping it down and really thinking about the lyrics.

Paul Simon is one of the greatest writers, particularly for singers; he has a phenomenal understanding of a hook, a melody, a lyric. I remember going to see Simon & Garfunkel in concert when they reformed many years after they’d split up – it was a magical night and that song, to me the words are so poignant, so simple, so clever – we want people to be around us and to look after us in those times when we feel we just can’t go on

AND I LOVE YOU SO
I was listening to a bunch of songs including this one by Perry Como and thought it would be great to find a different way of doing it. We’ve approached it like Diana Krall might approach it – with a bossa nova beat – and the very pleasing result is like a jazz quartet doing it with the strings going on.

DESPERADO (The Eagles, 1973)
Well here’s one I was very unsure of doing! I love The Eagles, Don Henley and I thought I’m never going to get away with doing this! I just sat down with Pete Murray on an old Rhodes keyboard and we just did it like that, very quietly, very simply, just the two of us, and then added the strings afterwards. It’s one of the best performances I’ve ever given and I don’t know why it worked but it did.

LIFE ON MARS (David Bowie 1971 from Hunky Dory)
I’ve always done ‘Life On Mars’ in my one man show, Alone Together, when I’m accompanied by piano only so it’s very much about the words and about the character (in Alone Together) breaking down and railing against life and society. This is not a slavish copy of Bowie in any way but we’ve got the orchestra and guitars in there; it’s such a great song to sing, it’s powerful, it’s cynical with its biting lyric and it soars.

I AM LOVED (Michael Ball, Nick Battle, Tim Woodcock 2005)
I wanted to include something of my own – if I’m doing an album called Music and looking at songs I love I want to show something that I’ve been part of creating. Again we just had a really good relationship working together and I think it’s turned out beautifully, I’m really pleased with it.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH (Dan Hill, 1977)
Two reasons I chose this – one is that I love the original and secondly that I sang it once with Tammy Wynette on my TV series. She was just fabulous, immensely talented, funny, wise and…stole everything from the dressing room! She’d obviously got into this thing from way back that anything that wasn’t nailed down was hers! So she walked out with a bin liner full of flowers, soap, towels – just cleaned it out! I have great and fond memories of that time. It’s a beautiful love song and one I haven’t heard covered

NATIONAL LOTTERY
Michael will be pushing the buttons on the National Lottery draw on BBC1 on Saturdays 21 and 28 April, and 5 and 12 May 2007.

BALL OVER BROADWAY - BBC RADIO 2
Musicals continue to dominate Broadway and there is no shortage of exciting new shows finding success down the Great White Way. In his latest six-part series, Michael Ball samples the most recent in musical theatre entertainment. From the best seats in the house, Michael casts a critical eye over the season's crop of new musicals. Ball Over Broadway features six very different shows reflecting the best of contemporary Broadway, with contributions from a powerful line-up of performers, writers and directors.

MICHAEL SITS IN FOR JOHNNIE WALKER ON BBC RADIO 2
Michael is currently standing in for Johnnie Walker on his BBC Radio 2 programme every Sunday betwen 5 and 7 pm. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

Michael Ball will be performing at several open-air concerts during the summer of 2006:

CRATHES CASTLE, NR ABERDEEN
Saturday 1 July 2006
Outdoor concert on the front lawn of this beautiful 16th century property which is 15 miles west of Aberdeen on Royal Deeside.

Visitors are able to bring their own picnic chairs and there is also full disabled access including parking,toilets and disabled viewing platform.

Tickets are available through www.liveonthelawn.co.uk or by calling Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 620011.

MICHAEL BALL AND ELAINE PAIGE IN CONCERT - BATH
15th July 2006
Michael Ball and Elaine Paige will perform at The Rec in Bath as part of the Summer Nights Open Air Concert Series on July 15; other performers in the series include Bryan Adams, Status Quo, Westlife and Pavarotti. Performing songs both alone and together Michael Ball and Elaine Paige offer a truly spectacular musical experience.

Booking line 0870 400 0688
www.summernightsonline.co.uk

OAKLEY HALL MUSIC FESTIVAL - BASINGSTOKE
20 July 2006
Book online at www.oakleyhallmusic.com or by telephone on Ticket Hotline 0870 906 3857.
Also appearing Julian Lloyd Webber. Michael is a guest vocalist on Julian Lloyd Webber's new album, Unexpected Songs, which is due for release internationally in June and the UK at the beginning of July. Michael will be singing the title track - "Unexpected Song". Click here for soundclip

MUSIC IN THE PARK, VICTORIA PARK, SOUTHPORT
28 July 2006
Tickets available from Southport Tourist Information Centre
112 Lord Street, Southport
Telephone: 01704 533333
or
Southport Arts Centre
Lord Street, Southport
Telephone 01704 540011
or online
Website: www.visitsouthport.com

PRINCES TRUST 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
29 July 2006
Venue: Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan, CF5 6SU
7.30pm start - gates open 6pm

Tickets are priced at £25.50 plus booking fee

Booking Telephone Number: 0870 534 4444
Click here for online booking

Full details can be found at the following website:
www.princes-trust.org.uk/dyffryn

MICHAEL BALL TO STAR AS COUNT FOSCO IN WOMAN IN WHITE ON BROADWAY

Following Michael’s huge success as Count Fosco in the Woman In White in London he will be reprising the role on Broadway. The show will be staged at the Marquis Theatre, New York.

Tickets can be obtained online at www.ticketmaster.com or by telephoning:

Box Office Numbers: (212) 382-0100
Group Sales: Call (212) 302-7000, or 1(800) 677-1164 for more information
Number of persons to constitute a group is 20+

Previews begin October 28, 2005 with the official opening on November 17, 2005
Performances:
Tues - Sat: 8pm
Wed & Sat: 2pm
Sun: 3pm

NEW YORK CITY OPERA PRESENTS MICHAEL BALL IN GILBERT & SULLIVAN’S PATIENCE

New York, NY (May 10, 2005) Britain’s leading musical star, Michael Ball will make his New York City Opera debut as Reginald Bunthorne in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience opening Saturday, September 10 at 8PM and running for only eight performances. In a new production directed by Tazewell Thompson, Tonna Miller sings the title role along with Myrna Paris as Lady Jane, Kevin Burdette as Archibald Grosvenor, Timothy Nolen is Colonel Calverley, Matthew Burns as Major Murgatroyd, and Christopher Jackson as The Duke of Dunstable. Gary Thor Wedow conducts the operetta, which has sets by Donald Eastman, costumes by Merrily Murray-Walsh, and lighting by Robert Wierzel. It will be sung in English with supertitles. Patience, which was last seen at City Opera in 1968 and had its world premiere in 1881, is a co-production with Glimmerglass Opera.

Michael Ball was last seen in New York on Broadway as Alex in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love in 1991, a role he created at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. Since then, has dominated the marquees in the West End. In July 1999 Michael was presented with the Theatregoers Club of Great Britain's award for Most Popular Musical Actor over the last 21 years. Michael's theatre career to date boasts roles such as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, Marius in Cameron Mackintosh and the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre in London, Raoul in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, Giorgio in Stephen Sondheim's musical Passion at the Queen's Theatre, London, Joe in Sunset Boulevard opposite Petula Clark in BBC Radio’s 2’s live concert production recorded at Cork Opera House, and recently completed a six month run in London’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

All performances of Patience take place at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (63rd St & Columbus). This limited engagement will run for eight performances only:

Saturday, September 10 at 8:00PM
Thursday, September 12 at 7:30PM
Saturday, September 17 at 1:30PM
Friday, September 23 at 8:00PM
Tuesday, September 27 @ 7:30PM
Friday, September 30 at 8:00PM
Sunday, October 2 @ 1:30PM
Wednesday, October 5 @ 7:30PM

Tickets are currently available through subscription and group sales only. Subscriber benefits include: subscriber discounts off full single ticket price, best seats (before single ticket buyers), and guaranteed seats. To subscribe: call 212-496-0600 or click here. Group tickets are sold at a 20 person minimum with 15% off the full ticket price. To buy group tickets: 212-870-5618 or groupsales@nycopera.com. Single tickets go on sale on August 1, 2005. Additional details of New York City Opera’s 2005-2006 season, including synopses and video trailers, are available on City Opera's website.

MICHAEL BALL ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Recorded at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Michael Ball sings hits from the best of West End and Broadway musicals, as well as some festive favourites. He’s joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Callum McLeod, and guests Celia Graham, Michael McCarthy, John Owen-Jones and Emma Williams.

The music includes 'Don't Rain On My Parade', 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Phantom Of The Opera', 'When A Child Is Born', 'O Holy Night' and 'Love Changes Everything'.

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

AUSTRALIA CONCERT DETAILS
Wollongong - WIN Entertainment Centre Friday March 19 @ 8pm
Sydney - Sydney Opera House Saturday March 20 @ 8pm
Perth - Burswood Theatre Tuesday March 23 @ 8pm.
Melbourne - VAC Concert Hall Thursday March 25 @ 8pm
Brisbane - QPAC Lyric Theatre Tuesday March 30 @ 7.30pm

"One Special Night with Michael Ball" - Sunday 28 December 2003
Following a sell-out UK tour and the launch of his recent album ‘A Love Story’, the UK’s number one musical star, Michael Ball, will be performing a special one-off Christmas concert ‘The Musicals at Christmas’ at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on Sunday 28 December. Michael will perform songs from popular musicals and a selection of Christmas classics. This unique concert will feature special guests from current West End Musicals, full band and string orchestrations This truly is a ‘one-off’ occasion ….. Irresistible.

Harrogate Concert
On 22 June 2003, Michael performed in a special one off concert at the Harrogate International Centre in aid of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Michael Last Performance in Chitty - July 19th
Michael's last performance in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was on 19th July 2003. Gary Wilmot will be taking over the role of Caractacus Potts.

ROC Concert
On 1 September 2002, Michael performed in a charity concert at the London Palladium in aid of ROC (Research into Ovarian Cancer) Special Guests included Brian Kennedy & Lesley Garrett

"The Making of Chitty" - Now on DVD
The Making of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is currently available on Video & DVD. Click here to order your copy online.

"Chitty" Cast Recording CD
The Original London Cast Recording of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - The Musical was released on 26 August 2002. Click here to order your copy online. Click here for soundclips.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - The Musical
Michael is currently starring as 'Caractacus Potts' in the stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - The Musical, which opened at the London Palladium on Tuesday 16 April 2002. Click here to read the Press Release. Box Office: 0870 8901108

Summer Open Air Concerts
Friday 21 June 2002 - Hampton Court Palace Festival
Saturday 27 July 2002 - Blickling Hall, Norfolk
Saturday 17 August 2002 -Marble Hill, Twickenham - Music On A Summer Evening.

Alone Together: Live At The Donmar
The Video/DVD of Michael's "Divas At The Donmar" performance was released on November 19th by Heritage Theatre - order your copy now through the Heritage Theatre Website.

Centre Stage - Debuts at #11
Michael's new solo CD, Centre Stage, was released in the UK on September 17th and entered the UK Album Charts at #11. The CD features a compilation of songs from the Musical Theatre. Click here for soundclips.

Michael Ball In Concert at Christmas
Dec 8 - Bournemouth International Centre - 01202 456456
Dec 9 - Cardiff International Arena - 029 2022 4488
Dec 12 - Birmingham Symphony Hall - 0121 780 3333
Dec 13 & 14 - Dominion Theatre, London - 020 7413 3546

Rhapsody in Rock
On November 22nd, Michael will be making a special guest appearance at the Rhapsody in Rock concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert will also feature popular Swedish pianist/composer Robert Wells. Tickets are sold out.
RAH Box Office - 020 7589 8212

Divas At The Donmar
Michael recently made his Donmar Warehouse debut at the Donmar's annual Divas At The Donmar concert season. Performance dates were from September 17-29, 2001 with preview performances on Sept. 17 & 18 and Press Night on Sept. 19

"Ball Over Broadway"
Michael presented a new six-part radio series, Ball Over Broadway, which looked at the revival of the Broadway musical in recent times. The programme began on 17 August 2001 and was heard weekly on BBC Radio 2.

A Message From Michael
On September 16 2001, Michael issued a message to his fans in America - click here to read

Summer Concerts 2001
July 16 - Liverpool Summer Pops Festival - Kings Dock, Liverpool
July 28 - Best of The West End Audley End, Essex
June 25th - The Royal Albert Hall Guest appearance at the charity concert "Midsummer Classic", in aid of the LNRT and the Blue Cross.
July 7th & 8th - Harrogate International Centre Both concerts were in aid of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
August 26th - Chelmsford Spectacular with Lesley Garrett

Michael In Concert - Sydney, Australia
On March 10th, Michael performed in a special, one-off concert at The Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Australia. "The Musicals" CD was released on Feb. 5th in Australia & "Live At The Royal Albert Hall" was released on VHS and DVD on April 11th.

This Time...It's Personal - The CD
Michael's latest CD "This Time...It's Personal" was released in the UK on October 30th.. As well as recording well known songs that held a memory for him, he also included some of his own songs in the new project.

This Time...It's Personal - The Video
The filming of Michael's new video was completed in the intimate atmosphere of the Cafe De Paris in London's West End. This one-off special concert features Michael performing songs from his latest album as well as brand new material and previously unrecorded songs. The video was released on October 30th.