Classic FM Chart of the Century 2019

[Martin]

From 10am on New Year’s Day, Classicfm (the UK’s leading classical radio programme) looks back at the last 20 years and counts down the bestselling UK classical recordings so far this century. There are several platinum selling albums in contention for No. 1, including Russell Watson’s The Voice, Hayley Westenra’s Pure and Andrea Bocelli’s Sentimento.

Good luck Hayley.

[Libby]

Yay! I hope Pure wins!

[Martin]

Jan 1, 2020 5:05:30 GMT Libby said:

Yay! I hope Pure wins! 

Yes, me too.

However, it has come 96 (out of 100)!!!!  What a disappointment.

Furthermore, the UK first version of Odyssey (featuring Dido’s Lament) has come 93 and the UK second version came 92. I wonder where the total sales of Odyssey would have come?

[crissyt]

I was listening to Classic FM earlier and I was also surprises that Pure is 96th. I had expected it to be much higher.

The presenter did say that Hayley has another entry further up the chart.

Perhaps this was Odessey at 92?

What of Paradiso ?

[crissyt]

I've just got back to my PC and I've taken a look at the Classic FM playlist from 10.00 hrs today. There is an inconstancy which I don't understand

As noted by me and Martin earlier, Pure bagged the No. 96 slot. The playlist shows Amazing Grace as the sample song from the album and gives a short preview. However it's not what was played on air this morning. That was Hine e Hine. I'm 100% sure of this because I happened to be listening. Both songs are on the UK version of Pure.

Martin, any recollections from you?

Playlist at www.classicfm.com/radio/playlist/ Click on John Suchet, 10.00 to 14.00.

I've checked the 14.00 to 18.00 playlist (Catherine Bott) up to 16.25, and nothing else exclusive from Hayley. She does get a look in with The water is Wide on "The Classical Album 2007". One ahead CC with "Dream a Dream".

[crissyt]

Well now I'm really confused. I've been listening to more of the Top 100 Albums of the Century on Classic FM for much of the evening.

At 21.45, they played Hayley singing the P song from Pure which is, apparently, No. 3.

Much more in line with our expectations.

So what of the entry earlier? My understanding was the same as Martin's. Pure was at No. 96.

Any clues, anyone?

No doubt the published chart will give more of an explanation, but at the moment, I'm as confused as a confused thing.

[Martin]

I am a little confused with this chart since it seems that it is a list of most popular songs rather than albums as Classicfm stated! 

In fact Pokarekare Ana by Hayley ends up 3rd overall with Russell Watson taking first and second positions. I think it is time for bed!

[crissyt]

Also, the presenter said he'd interviewed a 17 year old Hayley in 2003 when Pure was released.

Wrong. She only turned 17 in 2004.

[crissyt]

Thanks for that, Martin.

I'm glad it's not just me.

Your comment about songs rather than albums seems logical. It had also occured to me, despite the "album" billing.

As you say, time for bed. A return to the world of work beckons on the 'morrow.

No doubt we'll get to the bottom of it.

[Dave]

Wish I hadn't been offline for a few days over the festive period as I can clear this up.

TYhere were two releases of Pure in the UK: the original edition on 15 September 2003, which is indeed the no. 3 best selling classical album in the UK this century as defined by Classic FM - and the UK Special edition on 15 November 2004 (presumably the no. 96 album). Because of chart rules, the bonus disc of 8 extra songs I think, the sales were not combined, otherwise Hayley would have been fighting for the no. 1 spot with Russell Watson.

I have to admit that I did have to check my memory of that here: archive.hayley-westenra-international.com/dhtml-pages/html-main/menu_discography.html but I am certain that's what happened. It's a daft rule in my opinion!

But anyway, well done Hayley and Pure!

Dave

[Martin]

Thanks for the clarification Dave, so the final chart was for individual albums sold. Well done Hayley. 

However, the highest total number of albums sold this century in the UK was by Katherine Jenkins who had 7 albums in the top 100 and 3 in the top 10.

The top 10 are:

1. The Voice – Russell Watson

2. Encore – Russell Watson

3. Pure – Hayley Westenra

4. Living a Dream – Katherine Jenkins

5. Second Nature – Katherine Jenkins

6. Voices of the Valley – Fron Male Voice Choir 

7. Moonlight Serenade – André Rieu 

8. The Priests – Priests

9. Serenade – Katherine Jenkins 

10. Bryn – Bryn Terfel

[crissyt]

Yes, thanks Dave. So now we know.

I must say that it wasn't clear when Classic FM when broadcasting the chart.

It's not even clear from the full chart list on the Classic FM website.

Said full chart list can be found here   www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/classic-fm-chart/katherine-jenkins-most-classical-albums/   Scroll down below CJ's grin and several other photos and text.

[Dave]

Hi Crissy and all,

As 'older' members may recall, I used to maintain detailed records of Hayley's charts and sales on the forum and all the threads are still there. So I might eventially move all the posts regarding this Classic FM 'chart of the century' into there and leave a link to it here.

Now way back in December 2007/January 2008 over the new year, Classic FM did their first 'chart of the century' up to that date and I posted it, along with fairly accurate sales estimates as I did a lot of work on that, back then. On that occasion, they combined the sales of Pure and its Special Edition, and did the same with both UK editions of Odyssey. This resulted in a Hayley number 1 ! Had they done it in the same way this time, it would probably have been the same because all the biggest sellers occurred before 2008 when Classical Crossover was at its peak.

Here is the top 20 from that Classic FM chart of December 2007! The top 100 can be found here: hwi.proboards.com/thread/3106/classic-top-21st-century-2007?page=8 in the 2nd. post down.

UK Classical Artist Top 100 of 21st Century - and sales to 9th. December 2007

1 Pure - Hayley Westenra ( 770,000 )
2 The Voice - Russell Watson ( 741,500 )
3 Encore - Russell Watson ( 720,000 )
4 Voices Of The Valley - Fron Male Voice Choir ( 490,000 )
5 Living A Dream - Katherine Jenkins ( 485,000 )
6 Second Nature - Katherine Jenkins ( 480,000 )
7 Bryn - Bryn Terfel ( 470,000 )
8 Sentimento - Andrea Bocelli ( 450,000 )
9 Serenade - Katherine Jenkins ( 440,000 )
10 Gladiator Ost - Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard ( 400,000 )
11 Reprise - Russell Watson ( 350,000 )
12 Viaggio Italiano - Andrea Bocelli ( 300,000 )
13 The Voice The Ultimate Collection - Russell Watson ( 280,000 )
14 The Lord Of The Rings OST - Howard Shore ( 260,000 )
15 The Choirboys - Choirboys ( 240,000 )
16 All Angels - All Angels ( 225,000 )
17 Simple Gifts - Bryn Terfel ( 215,000 )
18 Odyssey - Hayley Westenra ( 205,000 )
19 Aria The Opera Album - Andrea Bocelli ( 195,000 )

20 Pieces In A Modern Style - William Orbit ( 185,000 )

This is the 2007 chart, not this week's - which I have a copy of and will post in full later (thanks for the top 10 Martin). I might be able to deduce some sales information from it too.

Dave

[Dave]

Here is the 2019 top 100. There are only two top ten additions since the 2007 chart, Moonlight Serenade by André Rieu in 2008, and The Priests by Priests in 2010. All the other top sellers were before then! As mentioned before, they did not on this occasion combine the sales of both Pure versions, nor of both Odyssey editions so that's why Pure isn't top and Odyssey is down in the 90s.


The Classic FM Chart of the Century – full list [2019].

1 The Voice – Russell Watson
2 Encore – Russell Watson
3 Pure – Hayley Westenra [2003 original edition]
4 Living a Dream – Katherine Jenkins
5 Second Nature – Katherine Jenkins
6 Voices of the Valley – Fron Male Voice Choir
7 Moonlight Serenade – André Rieu
8 The Priests – Priests
9 Serenade – Katherine Jenkins
10 Bryn – Bryn Terfel
11 Forever Vienna – André Rieu
12 Gladiator – Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
13 Sentimento – Andrea Bocelli
14 The Classical Chillout Album – Various Artists
15 Magic of the Movies – André Rieu
16 The Number One Classical Album 2004 – Various Artists
17 The Voice – The Ultimate Collectioon – Russell Watson
18 Viaggio Italiano – Andrea Bocelli
19 Reprise – Russell Watson
20 The Ultimate Collection – Katherine Jenkins
21 Classics 2002 – Various Artists
22 The Lord of the Rings – Howard Shore
23 The Number One Classical Album 2006 – Various Artists
24 Classical Chillout Gold – Various Artists
25 Sacred Arias – Katherine Jenkins
26 The Classical Album 2005 – Various Artists
27 Spirit of Glen – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
28 And the Waltz Goes On – André Rieu
29 Si – Andrea Bocelli
30 All Angels – All Angels
31 Voices of the Valley – Encore – Fron Male Voice Choir
32 The Choirboys – Choirboys
33 Islands – Essential Einaudi – Ludovico Einaudi
34 The Classical Album 2001 – Various Artists
35 Premiere – Katherine Jenkins
36 Simple Gifts – Bryn Terfel
37 The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace – Karl Jenkins
38 Love in Venice - André Rieu
39 Heroes – Coldstream Guards Band
40 Time to Relax – Various Artists
41 Classic FM – Smooth Classics – Various Artists
42 Relax More
43 Voices of the Valley – Home – Fron Male Voice Choir
44 A Year of Songs – Alexander Armstrong
45 Pavarotti/Domingo/Carreras – Pavarotti/Domingo/Carreras
46 The Opera Album 2002 – Various Artists
47 Aria – The Opera Album
48 Sacred Arias – Andrea Bocelli
49 Pieces in a Modern Style – William Orbit
50 Smooth Classics – Do Not Disturb – Various Artists
51 Concerto – One Night in Central Park – Andrea Bocelli
52 Aled – Aled Jones
53 Cinema – Andrea Bocelli
54 Together – Salvation Army
55 La Voce – Russell Watson
56 The Number One Classical Album 2008 – Various Artists
57 Chant – Music for Paradise – Cistercian Monks
58 The Christmas Album – Aled Jones
59 The Opera Band – Amici Forever
60 The Very Best of Classical Chillout Gold – Various Artists
61 Lord of the Rings – Return of the King – Howard Shore
62 The Classical Album 2007 – Various Artists
63 Dream a Dream – Charlotte Church
64 Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers – Howard Shore
65 Harmony – Priests
66 Now That’s What I Call Classical (2011) – Various Artists
67 Classical Voices – Various Artists
68 Classic FM – Relax & Escape – Various Artists
69 Spirit of the Glen – Journey – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
70 Higher – Aled Jones
71 Verdi – Andrea Bocelli
72 Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone – John Williams
73 The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical – LPO/Parry
74 Echoes – The Collection – Ludovico Einaudi
75 We’ll Keep a Welcome – Bryn Terfel
76 The Lord of the Rings – Trilogy – Howard Shore
77 The Very Best of Relaxing Classics – Various Artists
78 Amore – André Rieu
79 Incanto – Andrea Bocelli
80 The Ultimate Collection – Luciano Pavarotti
81 Faryl – Faryl
82 Popular Music from TV, Film & Opera – Maria Callas
83 Classics 2003 – Various Artists
84 This is Christmas – Katherine Jenkins
85 Roman Holiday – André Rieu
86 Blake – Blake
87 The Very Best of – John Rutter
88 Opera – Andrea Bocelli
89 Classic FM – At the Movies – Various Artists
90 Ti Adoro – Luciano Pavarotti
91 Classic FM Hall of Hame – Various Artists
92 Odyssey (version 2) – Hayley Westenra
93 Odyssey (version 1) – Hayley Westenra
94 Classic FM – Hall of Fame – Gold – Various Artists
95 Braveheart – LSO/Horner
96 Pure – Hayley Westenra [2004 special edition]
97 In Harmony – Aled Jones & Russell Watson
98 The Classical Album – Various Artists
99 Essential Carols – King’s College Choir/Willcocks
100 Only Classical Album You’ll Ever Need – Various Artists

I will move all the posts about the new chart of the century to the Charts and Sales board here so it's with all the others.

Dave