NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ Manhattan Records) - "
Symphony" by
Sarah Brightman, the world's biggest selling soprano of all time, scores her highest U.S. chart debut this week at No 13 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart with first week sales totaling 31,463. "
Symphony" is Brightman's first album of new material in five years. Released by EMI/Manhattan Records on January 29, "
Symphony" is a 13-track collection of all new songs, featuring duets with Andrea Bocelli, KISS' Paul Stanley, Alessandro Safina and Fernando Lima.
"
Symphony" also bows at No 1 on three other Billboard charts - Classical Overall Albums, Classical Crossover Albums and on Top
Internet Albums. "
Symphony" enters at No 17 on Billboard's Top
Digital Albums chart. Brightman recently performed songs from "
Symphony" on several national morning television programs including CBS Early Show, The View and Martha Stewart. She is also the featured singer in this year's Fashion on Ice which aired nationally last month on NBC and is currently airing on the
Style Network.
Over the past two and a half decades, Sarah Brightman has distinguished herself as the world's biggest selling soprano of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 26 million albums and over two million DVDs. Brightman is a pioneer in transcending and melding mainstream musical genres, from pop and Broadway showstoppers to operatic and classical arias. Her unique crossover style has helped pave the way for superstar singers, such as Andrea Bocelli, Il Divo and Josh Groban.
Brightman's new PBS Special which debuted this week, will be a featured program during PBS's high profile pledge period. Filmed in Vienna at St. Stephen's Cathedral, the special showcases Brightman performing selections from "Symphony" as well as many favorites from her vast catalog including "Phantom of the Opera" and "Time To Say Goodbye." St. Stephen's Cathedral, which was built in 1147 AD and is one of Vienna's most famous sights, was a spectacular backdrop for Brightman's hour-long performance.
Additionally, Brightman has a starring role in Repo! The Genetic Opera, which was filmed in Canada, directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (of the Saw films) and is scheduled for release this spring. Sarah stars alongside Paul Sorvino, Alexa Vega, Anthony Head and Paris Hilton. Sarah is currently busy promoting "Symphony" in several countries and will also launch a worldwide tour this fall.
