It’s hard to think of a voice more synonymous with Wales than Katherine Jenkins’. The Neath-born mezzo-soprano has performed everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to the Vatican, sung for popes, presidents, and monarchs, and sold millions of albums in the process. Yet, for all her global success, she remains rooted in the traditions of her home country.

We meet on St David’s Day at Quaglino’s, where she’s helping to bring a slice of Wales to Mayfair. The restaurant has crafted a special menu for the occasion, complete with cocktails made using her award-winning Cygnet Gin. “I was so excited when Quaglino’s said they were going to do a Welsh-inspired evening,” she says. “I worked really closely with Jack Smith, the executive head chef, and Jonny, the head barman, to create something really personal. They talked to me about my memories of Wales — things I ate at home, things that evoked memories — and they included all of that in tonight’s menu and the cocktails… It was a really lovely process.” That said, Jenkins added that the event wasn’t solely about the flavours: “It’s about the atmosphere, the community, the music. We’ve thought about every part of tonight.”

Jenkins performing with Kylie at the Royal Albert Hall. Image: James Hammick

Image: Quaglino’s/Cygnet Gin

If anyone understands the power of music to create a sense of belonging, it’s Jenkins. She’s spent the past two decades performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, but some moments still feel impossible to comprehend.

“When I was 24, Max Boyce invited me to perform with him at the Sydney Opera House,” she recalls, calling it a “bucket-list moment”. “I had only just signed my record contract. I flew to Sydney, rehearsed for one day, performed the next, then flew back home.” She recalls thinking, “Did that actually just happen?”

The singer has experienced plenty of unexpected moments. When Kylie Minogue called and asked her to perform a duet at the Royal Albert Hall, Jenkins didn’t hesitate. “That’s something that as a classical singer, I never expected,” she admits. “It was so much fun, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Yet, for all the milestones she has ticked off her list, Jenkins is equally passionate about ensuring opportunities for the next generation of musicians. “I think it’s so important that we encourage the next generation of artists, not just because Wales is the land of song and we’re known for our art,” she says. “I think back to when I was starting out, I was lucky to be encouraged by people like Bryn [Terfel], who I sang with as a young teenager, and now he’s a dear friend of mine. We have so many talented people in Wales, so to give them an opportunity, to have them involved, is really important to me.”

Jenkins performing live at Margam Country Park in Neath. Image: Entertainment Press/Shutterstock

Jenkins and her husband Andrew Levitas in 2018. Image: Tom Rose/Shutterstock

Away from the stage, motherhood and her burgeoning business means life is a little less spontaneous these days. “I’m not very good at downtime,” she says, explaining that being a working mum means that having a true day off is few and far between, but she wouldn’t change it for the world, especially as parenthood has altered the way she approaches music. “I’m a lot softer, a lot more emotional," she says. “When I sing, I think of them.” It has also transformed her experience of live performances. “It’s really different when you’re singing at a concert and your children might be in the audience.”

Though Jenkins keeps her family life with husband Andrew Levitas fairly private, she gives us a glimpse into the personalities of her two children, Aaliyah, nine, and Xander, six; “My daughter gets really excited and wants to be on stage with me.” Her son, however, is the opposite: “He gets really protective, wants to walk me off the stage and take me straight back to the dressing room,” she laughs. “It’s so nice to see it through their eyes.”

Music has taken her all over the world, but no matter where she is, there’s one song that always brings her back home. Jenkins has sung Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau on countless stages, yet the emotional pull of the Welsh national anthem never fades. “It doesn’t matter where in the world I am, if you start [singing it], everyone gets involved,” she says. “It creates a feeling that you can’t explain.”

That deep connection to Wales is something she carries with her everywhere. If she were to host the ultimate Welsh dinner party, she knows exactly who would be on the guest list. “Max Boyce, because I love him dearly. Roald Dahl, because my children would like that. And maybe for the fun element, let’s get Shirley [Bassey] in there as well, because she’s so fun.”

A legend, a storyteller, and a voice that could fill any room. Much like Jenkins herself.

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