By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Content Agency
January 20, 2015
British mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins is known for her beautiful voice. Over the past decade, she has performed with opera legends such as Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Jenkins — who also was a runner-up on “Dancing with the Stars” — spends much of her time touring and has performed in South Africa, China, Abu Dhabi, Europe and the United States.
“I’ve started (performing) in China more and more,” says Jenkins, 34. “Though not an often used language for classical music, I decided to learn a song in Mandarin as a thank-you gift to the Chinese people.”
The Queen of England recently awarded Jenkins with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to music and charity. Her latest CD is “Home Sweet Home.” Fans may follow her on Twitter and on Instagram.
Q. Where is home?
A. I live in London, where I’ve resided since the age of 18 when I left Wales to study at the Royal Academy of Music. My husband is a New Yorker so we also have a home in SoHo.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Amalfi Coast, Italy, for the food, the music, the views. In the summer there is a music festival with different live music every night. Grab a glass of Prosecco and enjoy the orchestra with the backdrop of the ocean! South Africa is a close second, as I love the wildlife there.
Q. What untapped destination should people know about?
A. Wales! It has some of the most stunning areas of outstanding natural beauty and friendly, fun people.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. As children, my family had a touring caravan (trailer) and we would go to places like the Cotswolds in England or the South of France. They are still some of my best memories.
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. Battle through the jetlag. Exercise to push through it, if you can. Running around a city is also a great way to see it.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Probably home! I travel so much that a weekend at home becomes sacred! Living in Europe means travel is very easy, so a great weekend away would be jumping on the Eurostar to Paris or Bruges (in Belgium).
Q. Where is the most romantic destination?
A. My husband took me to San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbra. It was heavenly.
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. Rosewood Hotel London, Le Bristol in Paris, Soho House Berlin, Shutters in Santa Monica and the Royal Mansour Marrakech in Morocco.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. London, New York, Sydney, Cape Town and Cardiff (Wales).
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. Ireland. The landscape and people are very similar. We are all Celts together!
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. India. I’m desperate to see the Taj Mahal!
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. Sneakers, fitness gear, iPad for FaceTiming, a scented candle.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. I would like to get a big gang of friends together and arrange a safari trip to see the migration of the wildebeests or the gorillas.
Q. What are your favorite restaurants?
A. Katsuya in Hollywood, Balthazar and Little Prince in New York City, Scott’s and China Tang in London and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. Box sets. It’s the only way to survive! I am currently re-watching the “Tudors” for the fifth time!
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A. For work trips I have trusted favorites, but for vacation, it’s so important to get it right. I read up on a property online on forums such as Trip Advisor.
© 2015 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
