TWO of the biggest stars of the musical firmament, classical crossover diva Katherine Jenkins and man of the musicals Michael Ball, are to play York Barbican next year.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am for Jenkins's February 25 concert and at 9am for Ball's show on April 23 and bookings can be made on 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk or in person at the Barbican box office, open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Katherine will undertake a 21-date tour in 2015, in the wake of the November 17 release of the 34-year-old Welsh mezzo soprano's new classical album, Home Sweet Home, on the Decca Records label.

The track selection marks not only a return to her classical roots and but also a career milestone: the tenth anniversary of Katherine's debut album, Premiere, the first of nine that have brought her sales of eight million copies, platinum discs and two Classical BRIT awards for Album of the Year.

Produced by Patrick Hamilton, Home Sweet Home was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and features collaborations with violin virtuoso David Garrett on Ode To Joy and tenor Alfie Boe on Barcelona.

Katherine, who headlined The Queen’s Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace in 2013, toured South Africa, the United States, China, Abu Dhabi and Europe last year and was awarded the OBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List for her services to music and charity.

Her Home Sweet Home will see her sing selections off the new album plus favourites from throughout her career. "Performing live for my fans is what I love most about being an artist," says Katherine, who last played the Barbican on her Daydream tour in February 2012. "I’m so thrilled to be going on tour next year, getting to see you all and performing my new album. I can’t wait.”

Michael Ball, 52-year-old double Olivier Award winner, musical theatre leading man, multi platinum-selling recording artist and radio and television presenter, has a new album on the way on November 17 too. If Everyone Was Listening features 15 of Michael's favourite songs, a mix of "new and old, rock classics, beautiful tunes and a couple of surprises", spanning the years 1960 to 2013.

"I’m thrilled with the result," he says. "I had a brilliant time delving into my own record collection to pick the tracks and took a very active role in the arrangements and production. In fact, I think this is my most personal album yet; every song features beautiful lyrics and as you know, I love singing songs whose lyrics mean something to me and that I know other people will relate to."

Among the songs will be May You Never, Stuck Like Glue, Falling Slowly from the film and musical Once, Let It Be Me, Bad Things, Jessie, I Won't Give Up and Still The Same.

Next year's tour takes its title from the new album and will run to 19 shows, including Ball's return to York Barbican, where he brought his Both Sides Now tour in April 2013.