York choirgirl’s requiem for the Titanic (From York Press)

Isabel Suckling sings with Bee Gee Robin Gibb on The Titanic Requiem album

9:22am Wednesday 28th December 2011 in News

YORK’S famous choirgirl Isabel Suckling has teamed up with a Bee Gee to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

Isabel, 13, from Fulford, was asked by Robin Gibb to perform a track on The Titanic Requiem – the album he has written with his son Robin-John ahead of the anniversary of the sinking of the ship in April.

Christmas Day saw Isabel performing alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to tell the story of a young girl on one of the lifeboats singing about her father who died on the liner.

Robin said: “This song is paramount in expressing the respect and admiration for those who bravely gave up their seats for the women and children, complete strangers as well as their own kin.

“Isabel Suckling has made Christmas Day come to life. She has the right voice for the song and it was a pleasure working with her.”

The track is described as a “poignant example” of the many personal tragedies caused by the sinking of the Titanic on April 1912, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people.

Isabel is expected to join other artists at a concert in London to perform The Titanic Requiem near to the time of its release in the spring. It is the latest career success for the classical star who was signed by Decca Records last year following a nationwide search to find Britain’s most talented choirgirl. The Queen Margaret’s School pupil, who is managed by former chorister-turned-TV presenter Aled Jones, performed before the Royal Family at the televised Festival Of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010.

Earlier this year she went head to head with some of the biggest names in the industry including Shane MacGowan and Aled Jones in the best album category at the Classical Brit awards.

Catherine Suckling, Isabel’s mum, said her daughter was in the studio with Robin for a couple of hours to record the track.

She said: “Isabel was very pleased to do it.

“It’s a nice song and Robin was a very nice man.”