Julian Ovenden Signs New Record Deal!

Star of Downton Abbey and regular on the West End and Broadway stage, Julian Ovenden has signed a new record deal with East West Records (home to artists including Alexander Armstrong, Hugh Laurie, Simply Red and The Corrs).

Having started as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral as a child, he subsequently read music at New College, Oxford on a choral scholarship. As he enters a new phase in his music career, the new album, set to be recorded early 2016, will pay homage to the American musical songbook - expect to hear numbers such as The Way You Look Tonight originally performed by Fred Astaire in 1961, Cole Porter's seminal Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, Rodgers and Hart's My Funny Valentine taken from the 1937 musical Babes In Arms and Irving Berlin's wonderful 1923 composition,What'll I Do. The album is being produced by Nick Patrick whose credits include the 2015's No.1 Elvis Presley record, If I Can Dream, Placido Domingo, Il Divo and Katherine Jenkins

On the announcement, Julian said: "Christmas has certainly come early for me. I'm delighted to be joining the illustrious stable at East West Records and working with Nick Patrick on delivering a special album. These songs mean so much to so many - from Irving Berlin to Cole Porter, Harold Arlen to Richard Rodgers - and I hope to bring a fresh perspective to these great American tunes. Having performed many of these songs on stage, I am thrilled at the prospect of exploring them more deeply and in turn communicating that excitement to the listener. "

Dan Chalmers, President, East West Records, said: "Julian is a powerhouse of a vocalist who is as stunning on the stage as he is in the recording studio; whatever songbook he tackles he delivers with an intense warmth and emotion. We're delighted to welcome him to the East West family".

Julian will be performing on the Sound Of Music Special on 20th December on ITV and on the BAFTA Downton Special on 21st December on ITV.

Pre-order the album at Amazon.