Church bringing angelic voice to Aladdin

Marilyn LaRocque

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 8:37 a.m.

Who: Charlotte Church.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Tickets: $100, $75, $50.

Information: (702) 785-5000.

Tired of tuneless mayhem masquerading as music? Deafening decibels? Illiterate lyrics?

In a popular music world populated primarily by screamers, not singers, local audiences will have a choice this weekend when Charlotte Church performs her first concert in Las Vegas at Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Saturday.

She'll be backed by a full orchestra. Acoustic guitarist Frank Simes will also perform.

How does a teenage singing sensation billed as having "The Voice of an Angel" compete today?

"I think there will always be screamers," Church responded, "but I like being different, really original."

Her independent thinking influences not only her music but her costumes.

"I like clothes that are smart, elegant, nothing too revealing," she said.

What? No bare bellybutton?

"Not as yet," she answered.

With international album sales topping 10 million, the vivacious blonde ranks as the world's most successful classical crossover female artist. She has scored success with religious songs "Pie Jesu" and "Panis Angelicus" Broadway hits, chamber music, Gaelic airs, pop songs and movie themes.

She has sung for queens, first ladies, presidents and the pope. Her 1999 record, "Voice of an Angel," and her 2000 Christmas collection, "Dream a Dream," hit platinum in the United States. She's also the youngest artist to achieve a No. 1 album ranking on the classical charts in the United Kingdom.

For her Las Vegas show, Church has charted a "mellow" program. "There'll be lots of variety, songs that let me change my style, songs I'm comfortable with and love," she said.

Guitarist Simes has impressive credentials. He's recorded with Mick Jagger, Elton John, Don Henley (Simes has also been his touring guitarist since 1989), the Eagles' Timothy B. Schmidt, Warren Zevon and Martha Davis. He's written background music for TV series and appeared on "Saturday Night Live" with Jagger and Henley.

Church has been in the spotlight since her preteen years.

Now 17, she was born in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales, on Feb. 21, 1986. She appeared on a local television show when she was 9 and was immediately signed to a major recording contract. She has expanded her vocal studies beyond classical to include other singing styles with various teachers.

She recently added a new mentor, Ian Shaw. "He's a really famous jazz singer, absolutely brilliant," she said enthusiastically. "He's broadening my voice. I really enjoy that."

Church comes from a close-knit musical family.

"My mom plays classical guitar, and the rest of my family sings," she recalled. "We live near each other, and I see my relatives every day when I'm home. At parties, we don't have a DJ. Everybody gets up and sings. It's wonderful."

Initially her career was a family affair.

"I've been traveling since I was 12, and my parents went with me the first few years," she said, then added quickly, "but not now. They're really young, 37 or 38, quite modern, not too strict. At the beginning, Mom handled the business end of things. She has a good head for business and made sure nobody ripped me off. But I've always chosen my own clothes, my songs and photos."

Two private tutors were also part of Church's entourage in her early teens.

"They worked with me when I was on the road. When I was home, I went back to school. Most of the time I was ahead of my class," she added proudly. "Because you can leave school when you're 16 in Britain, I quit then to concentrate on my career."

What's it like to be so successful so young?

"You've got no fear," she stated. "I didn't understand what was happening, and I loved the attention. It was exciting. I'm glad I got into it young. It helped me grow up a lot. It's good to have more experience and knowledge about things -- how people behave, for instance, things I won't have to learn when I'm older."

What are Church's plans for the future?

She said her most recent album, "Prelude -- the Best of Charlotte Church" (released in November), is a "closing of a chapter" in her career. So, she's exploring new directions.

"I love many types of music," she said. "Some of my favorite artists are India.Arie, Jill Scott and Sting. But I haven't a clue yet where my singing will go."

She's sure, however, that it won't be to pop, R&B or opera.

"Opera's so restricting," she remarked. "You have to sing what was written ages ago and sing it in a certain way and phrase the notes just so. There's no freedom.

"I like to interpret music in my own way and have freedom to add my own flavor. I can sing in so many different voice styles. I'm experimenting with writers, producers, to see what we want to do."

Will Church write her own songs?

She laughed. "I only took piano for two years, and that was a long time ago. I've written some poetry, though; so I might try writing lyrics or co-write with someone."

But singing isn't her only interest.

In May she'll begin hosting the U.K.'s irreverent topical TV quiz show, "Have I Got News for You." Her first film, "I'll Be There," a comedy, will be released this year by Warner Bros. in both the U.K. and the U.S.

"It's set in Wales," Church said. "I play the daughter of an aging, reclusive rock star, who had a one-night-stand, and I was the result. He's become an alcoholic and lives in a massive mansion. He was never told he had a daughter, so the story focuses on our discovering he's my father."

Four songs in the film showcase her vocal versatility -- "Would I Know," written by Diane Warren and produced by Walter Afanasieff; the title song, "I'll Be There" (a Motown classic); "Summertime" (from "Porgy and Bess"); and a Gaelic ballad, "In Hebrid Seas."

Church indicated more films are a definite goal.

"But more serious," she said. "I wanted to start with something low key, a small British film (produced by Morgan Creek Productions). I'd also love to go to university. My friends tell me I'd learn so much. But I don't know if I have the discipline.

"What I love is singing," she said. "If I lost the fame tomorrow, as long as I could sing, fame wouldn't be important."