Sarah Brightman is on her way to Moscow to launch the European leg of her Arabian-inspired 'Harem World Tour'. Brightman has sold more than 15 million copies of her album 'Harem' worldwide. She has been touring the United States with the new collection since January.

The album is based on stories from the Middle East, such as "The Arabian Nights" to "Lawrence of Arabia" -- and the tunes draw strongly from Turkish and Middle Eastern music. This is Brightman's first arena tour, and follows a three-and-half year break from the road.

After Europe, it will take her to the Far East and Australia. After a total of 46 shows, Brightman will get a well-deserved rest when the tour winds up on July 8.

The songstress was born in London in 1961. Beginning her career as a dancer, Brightman had her first hit with the dance troupe Hot Gossip. She got to the UK top ten with I Lost my Heart to a Starship Trooper. But she made her name with roles in a variety of stage musicals.

Brightman said, "In a way it's like going on a journey on an amazing river, my boat is my voice if you like and I travel along. Then all sorts of things happen along the way and you get involved in them and you enjoy them and then you're back in another direction. That's how I tend to think of my career, it's an amazing, fascinating journey."

To accompany the album, Brightman will release the DVD Harem -- A Desert Fantasy, on April 26th. It features videos for thirteen tracks on the collection. Some were filmed at ancient sites in places like Morocco and Egypt.

The DVD will also include new videos for past hits Time to Say Goodbye and Anytime, Anywhere, along with a 30 minute behind-the-scene documentary about how they were made.

Brightman will be in China for performances in four major cities from the end of May.

(CCTV.com April 16, 2004)