It’s taken 30 years, but former choirboy Aled Jones, who found fame in his early teens when his single Walking in the Air reached No.5 in the charts, finally performed his signature song in the air. To launch his brand new album, One Voice at Christmas (released on 25th November on the Classic FM label), the nation’s favourite chorister treated passengers on FLYBE Flight BE1324 from London City to Cardiff Airport to a totally unique Christmas concert above the clouds where he dueted with his younger self.
Classic FM presenter Aled Jones has performed all over the world, but this was the first time the singer has performed on a plane.
He commented, “I have extremely fond memories of recording and performing Walking in the Air, and now Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it! To sing it whilst looking out at the clouds and huge expanse of sky was a very special moment indeed. All we needed was the Snowman!”
The new Christmas album follows Aled’s sensational return to the charts earlier this year with the concept album, One Voice, which saw the crossover star duet with his younger self. Released on the Classic FM label, it hit No.3 in the UK album chart and spent an impressive 14 weeks at No.1 in the UK Classical Chart.
Rearranged for 2016 by Howard Blake, Walking in the Air leads the 13-track album which also includes traditional Christmas classics such as O Holy Night and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, through to seasonal favourites including Little Drummer Boy, Away in a Manger, In the Bleak Midwinter and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
The album also includes a brand new setting of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear composed by Howard Goodall, and a collaboration with guitarist John Williams on Silent Night. Once again dueting with his younger self, One Voice at Christmas reminds us why Aled is one of our most loved treasures - and voices!
Aled continued, “This year has been a great one for me. The reaction to One Voice earlier this year was really humbling so to do it again for Christmas – well, Christmas has come early for me.”
“I’ve performed in some pretty special places around the world, but never 18,000ft up in a plane! I’m sure my 12-year-old self would think that’s very cool. Thankfully we had a pretty smooth flight to Cardiff, so hopefully hit all the right notes!”
The performance took place on board Flybe’s route between Cardiff – Wales’ national airport (the home nation of Aled Jones) - and London City. Faster than road or rail, Flybe’s route has been providing Welsh travellers with time-saving travel options during the closure of the Severn Tunnel.
