Sarah Brightman

Sarah Brightman is a British recording artist, actress, songwriter and dancer from Berkhamsted, United Kingdom. Born in 1960, she is widely associated with classical crossover and is credited as a pioneer of that style. Her repertoire spans classical, new age, pop, disco, modern classical and Christmas music, and she sings in several languages, including English, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Italian, Russian, Hindi and Mandarin.

Early work and musical theatre

Brightman begins her career as a dancer, performing in troupes such as Hot Gossip before moving into recording. She also works in musical theatre and appears as a partner of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom she originates roles including Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera.

Recording career

After her divorce, Brightman develops a crossover career with former Enigma producer Frank Peterson. Her music combines classical vocals with pop-influenced production and arrangement, which helps establish her wider international profile. She releases a string of disco singles early in her career and later becomes known for a style that moves between classical and popular forms.

Achievements and recognition

Brightman receives more than 180 gold and platinum sales awards across more than 40 countries. She is the only artist to hold number one positions on the Billboard Classical and Dance charts at the same time. She is ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America as the best-selling female classical artist of the twenty-first century, and she holds a Guinness World Record for the success of “Time to Say Goodbye,” described as the best-selling single in German recording history.

Sales and influence

She is described as the world’s biggest-selling soprano of all time. Her worldwide album sales are given as 78 million, including 26 million solo albums, over two million DVDs and 10 million copies of “Time to Say Goodbye.” The soundtrack of The Phantom of the Opera accounts for 40 million copies. She is also associated with paving the way for later international crossover artists such as Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban.