She lost her heart to a starship trooper back in 1978 – this time it could be for real.

Yes, it’s all true. The world’s biggest-selling soprano, Sarah Brightman, is set to travel on board a Soyuz rocket into outer space. But before you get too excited, it’s definitely a return ticket.

Meanwhile, in terrestrial news, having just signed with Universal Music Germany, Brightman will release her new album, Dreamchaser, in super-deluxe, special or standard versions, on Friday April 5. The new album follows on from the success of Symphony which sold nearly 3 million copies globally back in 2008 and 2009. Her single, One Day Like This, comes out in March – it’s touted as an ingenious interpretation of a song by Mercury Prize winner Elbow. Recording artist, actress and humanitarian, Brightman was a pioneer of the classical crossover movement and can apparently still boast a vocal range of three octaves.  Extraordinarily, she has received more than 180 gold and platinum awards in over 40 countries.

Brightman’s distinctive voice has been heard in theatres, arenas, cathedrals, and Olympic
stadiums across the world, but until now she has been confined to her home planet. That, however, is set to change...