 LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ Sony Music Entertainment UK) - The biggest selling debut male artist of 2008 is back. Today the classically trained X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts announces details for his brand new studio album. O Fortuna showcases Rhydian as his very own man. He says, ?I had a much more free hand with this album. I could spend my career trying to reinvent myself but ultimately this is me as a real singer. This is very much where I envisaged being when I was at music school. I?m made up. It?s brilliant. And long may it continue.? Produced by Karl Jenkins and Nigel Wright, the album was recorded between July and October of this year. O Fortuna is a natural progression from Rhydian?s debut release and confirms his place as the UK?s leading classical cross over artist. As well as being backed by a welsh male voice choir, the new album sees him teaming up with classical heavyweight Karl Jenkins, opera superstar Bryn Terfel, harp virtuoso Catrin Finch and the legendary Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Rhydian pays tribute to his welsh heritage with a collection of much loved Welsh favourites such as Land Of Our Fathers and Myfanwy, classic hymns like How Great Thou Art, musical favourites Anthem from the musical Chess, pop classics Annie?s Song and The Living Years and the classical anthem O Fortuna (which has been reintroduced to a new audience by the X Factor in recent years). The album also includes a special new track, I Won?t Let You Walk This Road Alone, written for Rhydian by Grammy award winning songwriter/producer Walter Afansieff. Rhydian's rich baritone voice and unique talent first came to the public's attention in 2007 when he was touted as the bookies favourite to win the X Factor. Not the typical finalist we've come to expect from the show, Rhydian really is a unique proposition and immediately caught the public's imagination with his flamboyant style, passionate performances and versatile classically trained voice. His debut album 'Rhydian', released in November 2008, sold over 500,000 copies making the biggest selling debut male artist of 2008, despite being kept off the top spot by The Killers and the eagerly anticipated returned of Guns N? Roses. Although Rhydian was the runner up in 2007?s X Factor he went on to comprehensively outsell that year?s winner Leon Jackson.
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