Life according to: Christmas favourites and singers, Aled Jones &; Russell Watson

Classical stars on their friendship, recording a Christmas album in summer and a late arrival.

How did the two of you begin working together?

Aled: When we started in classical crossover, it was such a small circle that you tended to meet up all the time. Whenever we met, we hit it off, and we’re very similar in many respects. I sent him a text, said we should do something, and a month later we were.

Russell: I had been talking for years about doing a collaboration album and it never materialised, so when Al said do you fancy doing something, I said, of course.

You recorded your Christmas album in a heatwave – was it hard to get into the spirit?

Russell: While we were recording White Christmas it was 38 degrees!

Aled: The songs are so brilliant and that’s why they’ve stood the test of time. With a song like In The Bleak Midwinter, there’s magic in the music and the arrangements we have are fantastic – so beautiful and lush – so the minute you hear the orchestra play, you’re in a different world.

Was it difficult to agree on which songs to record?

Russell: There’s never been a furore between us about anything. We suggested 10 songs each, whittled them down to 12, and those are the ones we do, usually choosing six each.

Aled: That’s been the case on the three albums we’ve made. It’s been a very easy process. We get on like a house on fire, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, we’re out there doing what we love, and hopefully making an impact on people.

One song on the album is Walking In The Air from The Snowman?

Aled: I’ve only ever duetted on that with my younger self, so it’s fitting the first duet is with Russ, since he’s ripped me more than anyone about The Snowman.

Russell: That’s a favourite of mine. While Christmas is a time of celebration, for me it’s also about reflection and a little melancholic, and in many respects it’s the music of Christmas that brings both of those. It doesn’t matter how many times I watch The Snowman, when the kid comes down the stairs in the morning and all his dreams have been dashed and The Snowman is melted, I start to fill up. I think it’s a reflection maybe on me coming out of my childhood into a period of my life where I was going into my late teens and the childhood magic was slowly dissipating.

Are you looking forward to performing live together again?

Russell: Singing in front of an audience is what it’s all about. As soon as I get on the stage and feel the light on my face and hear the audience, that’s when things come alive.

Aled: The scary thing about getting back out is we never know what we’re going to say between songs, and we forget we are in front of an audience, so that keeps it fresh.

Is there anything that annoys you about each other?

Aled: We get on really well. The only difference is he’s always late and I’m always early.

Russell: But there was one occasion when Aled was late.

Aled: It’s not every day you sing at Last Night At The Proms at Hyde Park in front of 70,000 people, and my driver got lost on the way.

Russell: I was at the side of the stage, getting into a panic. As Michael Ball put the mic to his mouth to introduce us, a taxi door opened and Al came running up, in jeans and trainers, his hair all over the place. He asked if he had time to change and I said, no, we’re on!

Aled: Russell was in a shiny suit and I was literally running up the ramp as we were being introduced. It was awful.

Christmas With Aled And Russell is out now. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Aberdeen Music Hall, December 7 & 9