My dream would be to post a video with Jonathan singing Happy Birthday, but that’s not going to happen, so the graphic will have to do. It’s a year since I started this blog and to date I’ve published 157 posts about ‘our boy’ and his achievements. How time flies.
I want to say a big thank you to the thousands of you who have visited in the past 12 months. Also, I’d like to give a big thank you to the many Fantoines who have given their permission to use their fabulous photographs, videos and creative works of art. Their input to posts is invaluable. Thank you each and every one of you. There are too many to name individually (that’s my excuse because I have a dreadful memory and I may cause offence if I leave someone out). Quite a few people have asked who is involved in writing the blog and I have had to admit it’s a ‘one-man-band’. Me. My online pseudonym is Subrosa although I use JonathanFan to post here. Don’t ask me why I didn’t use Subrosa because I’ve no sensible answer! It’s not easy to remember so far back (ageing has its negatives), but I possibly thought JonathanFan was more appropriate to this particular blog. It was my idea to have a source, outwith Facebook and Twitter, for anyone who wanted information about the fantastic tenor Jonathan Antoine. There was very little online about Jonathan a year ago and I thought it important to boost his online presence because, as most of you know, Facebook and Twitter are only a small percentage of the internet experience. That was then. What a difference a year makes doesn’t it? Jonathan has come into his own and when anyone googles his name they see up-to-date images and articles about his ongoing achievements. Wonderful isn’t it? Note: May I reiterate that this blog is not associated in any way whatsoever with Jonathan, his family, Sony (his record label) or his management. It is run by me for his worldwide fans and the opinions expressed are my own. The comments - always greatly appreciated - are yours. Tweet
We all knew Tenore would be a smash hit but it’s good to see it in type on your screen. The weekly UK Music Charts were published earlier this evening and Jonathan is No 1 in Classical Albums.
Such a marvellous achievement and a worthy reward for all his hard work. I’m sure you will agree with me that he has worked tirelessly promoting his album in the past months. Oh, below is a photo from his appearance, with Sara and Mario, at The Last Night of the Autumn Proms in Manchester last night. Another standing ovation I’m told. Bravo!
One of our lovely Fantoines is putting together a video in celebration of the release of Tenore. Her message is below and details of how to join in the video above. Let’s all make it a great success and remember - there’s room for everyone! Please replace the AT with the @ symbol in her email address. Thanks. If you want to be included in the Tenore Celebration Video please email your photos with the album, name and town/city to ducky.fantoineATgmail.com .. I know some albums won't arrive till mid November so the video won't be completed till early December.Tweet
The lovely Sandra Flip Flop Guard Wright has given me permission to post her Homage to Jonathan video here. She made it as a tribute to Jonathan prior to his album release on 13 October. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.Tweet
A couple of days ago Jonathan posted the above photo showing his last day recording his solo CD which we are sure will reach dizzy heights and make him one of the most sought after tenors in the world. Here’s his explanation: On the last day of recording in the church - my Mum secretly recorded me singing my last song as she was behind me - I was rather exuberant and we, (Julian who you can see conducting me and I) had a great time! When you know the song list I wonder if you'll be able to guess which song I was singing here. It's hard to get out of your head once it's there!!Please feel free to pre-ordersmarturl.it/JAntoine much love! xx I’ve no idea what it could, do you?Tweet
The artistic ability of some Fantoines continues to amaze. The above image was created by Lori Kolwyck-Kemp and she has given me permission to use it here. As Lori is American she’s used an image of an American city. One day, I have no doubt, Jonathan’s picture will adorn the Carnegie Hall and many other world renowned concert venues.Tweet
Posted recently by Jonathan on his Facebook page. I want to share this photo with you which was taken by the professional photographer when I performed in Orlando at the beginning of the month [May] - I'm not always barefoot and casual LOL Tweet
I’ve had a few emails from Fantoines unhappy about having to give their date of birth when applying for Jonathan’s newsletter on his website. There also has been a little bit of discussion about it on social media. Personally I think it’s quite unnecessary and it’s obviously quite off-putting to some, or they wouldn’t have emailed me. I’m a great believer in not providing personal information on the internet unless absolutely necessary and a DOB in this case is exactly that. If Sony want the demography of the Fantoines they should be honest and ask us if we wouldn’t mind undertaking a brief survey. Plenty websites do that and it seems get reasonably truthful answers, just because visitors to these sites are given a choice of doing a survey. Sony have made the DOB issue mandatory and that is unfortunate. Hopefully they will remove it before long. However, until then, here are a few suggestions ((if you don’t want to give your true DOB) given to me via email. Make yourself 10, 20, 30, 40 years younger (I like that one) Give the millennium i.e. 01/01/2000 Give any DOB other than your own Give 27/10/1994 - my favourite and we will all be 20 years old!! Hope this helps some of you decide to sign up. I’ve no idea when the newsletter will be produced but hopefully it will be in our mail boxes before Jonathan’s album is in our postboxes. Tweet
Yes, I know I said in the previous post that I was happy to be redundant now that Sony has set up a website for Jonathan, but it seems it will be some time until it is fully developed. So, by popular request, I’ve been asked to continue this blog until Sony gets round to providing us with a site worthy of Jonathan’s exceptional talent. Thank you for the many emails I received about my voluntary redundancy. I’ve done my best to answer everyone, but please let me know if I’ve not acknowledged yours. Now back to the subject of this blog - Jonathan! He tweeted the above photo yesterday (Thursday). It was taken while he was enroute to Sony’s recording studios to start recording his album. So good to see him happy isn’t it? 156 days to go now. I’m sure some of us, for the first time in our lives, are wishing time would fly!Tweet
This coming Friday, 13 December, Jonathan will be singing in Chichester Cathedral. His singing teacher Sara Reynolds, also teaches at Seaford College and she will be conducting the junior choir in the afternoon and the senior choir in the evening. The events start at 2.30 and 7.30pm respectively. Sara has been a major influence on Jonathan’s progress in the past three years so here is a photograph of her with him, just in case you do live in that area and are able to attend one or both concerts.
I’ve been to a few concerts in Chichester Cathedral and I’m quite sure you won’t be disappointed. Such a wonderful acoustic environment is very suited to Jonathan’s voice. Oh, I forgot to say, I’ve heard he’s singing ‘O Holy Night’.Tweet
Yesterday some Scottish Fantoines (Clantoines) met up in Livingston near Edinburgh. One of the lovely fans made this super placard and the bagpipes actually play! I do hope she keeps it for future events because I doubt if anyone could surpass it! I was there. It was a super afternoon with lovely people and all because the lady who made the placard had made the suggestion to meet. Sorry I haven’t posted other photos but I haven’t asked permission of those who attended and some people don’t like to see themselves on the ‘world wide web’. I don’t because I look far too old in photos! Hope this gives some of you an idea to meet with those around you. Tweet
This is tear-jerking. Some of you may know Jonathan has suffered from depression for some time and he wasn’t well when he sang this, but he did it because he wanted to show respect to one of his teachers who had died. Obviously it was recorded a few years ago but it’s had over 3,000,000 views on Youtube since it was uploaded there two years ago. Like me, I’m sure you can feel the pain of his depression, but it also makes the song far more profound and sincere. Tweet
My favourite performance of Jonathan’s from BGT. It shows his ability to breath in all the right places. Magnificent doesn’t really describe it. What do you think?Tweet
