HMV CHOICE MAGAZINE ARTICLE
Michael Ball has never taken a singing lesson in his life. But combining a natural singing voice with his acting talents, he has become Britain's biggest musical performer.
Michael Ball has never taken a singing lesson in his life. But combining a natural singing voice with his acting talents, he has become Britain's biggest musical performer.
Star of the Stage
Somewhere in Michael Ball's home 11 gold and platinum discs adorn the walls - testimony to the huge following he has gained through leading roles in hit musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Aspects of Love. In fact, the Theatregoers' Club of Great Britain recently dubbed him 'Most Popular Musical Actor of the last 20 years'. Not bad for a man who has never had singing lessons! "But I did some busking in my youth" laughs Ball "And I did train as an actor".
Andrew Lloyd Webber, who knows a thing or two about these things, probably hit the nail on the head when he said, "Michael has a God given voice. He is that very rare thing - a natural singer who can just get on stage and deliver".
As
well as his work in musical theatre over the last decade, Ball has hosted
his own TV shows, and appeared at prestigious events such as The Last Night
Of The Proms and the Royal Variety Shows. His concerts and tours
are always sell-outs and of late he's become a broadcaster of music programmes.
Despite all these achievements, Ball doesn't believe in planning his career moves. "You can dream, of course", he says thoughtfully. "Earlier this year I fulfilled a long held ambition to perform in Australia which was great. But in general I go for projects that will challenge and stimulate. That's how you stay fresh. And I love the business I'm in. It's my joy - and my passion!"
Ball's musical tastes began to form at around eight years of age, when he was living in South Africa. He says, "There was no TV but in our rented house we inherited a record collection, which included albums by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. They were my musical gurus. My mother played the piano too, so we'd gather round, singing numbers by Irving Berlin or George Gershwin. Having that sort of basis enables you to approach contemporary stuff with a discerning ear. I'm a big Joni Mitchell fan, for instance - I record and perform her songs. I also like Radiohead."
Currently Ball is undertaking a new challenge. Audiences used to his friendly approachable style, will find him in more experimental mode in a one-man show at The Donmar Warehouse, Covent Garden. "I won't be singing anything I've sung before" he declares. "There are no sets, no orchestra - just a piano. I won't even speak. I want people to come with me on this particular musical journey with an open mind. I'm expressing a performer's view of life - and love." A totally appropriate role for the man whose marvellous voice convinced us that Love Changes Everything.
Michael
Ball doesn't like to stand still. So although Centre Stage features
songs from shows with which he's been associated, there are some other
less familiar and rather intriguing tracks which makes for an absorbing
mix of emotions and rhythms. Boy From Nowhere is a Spanish
style number from Matador, while Seasons of Love, from Rent,
has a catchy rock feel. Another interesting choice is Send
in the Clowns, from Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which
is normally delivered by the leading lady in the show. Ball once
asked Sondheim why so many of his best songs are reserved for women, to
which the great songwriter replied that mostly the songs were not gender
specific but merely reflected a character's situation. He encouraged
Ball to record any songs he found appealing. On this CD, Michael
uses his vocal ability wisely, interpreting the wide ranging material with
subtlety and power - in all the right places!!