Katherine Jenkins Inks Deal With Decca Records

Katherine Jenkins is returning to her first ever music label, Decca Records.

The Welsh mezzo-soprano has inked a deal with the world's top classical label, which helped propel her to stardom 10 years ago, and her next album is due for release in autumn 2014.

Katherine was originally signed to Universal Records division Decca for five years until she switched to Warner Music Group in 2009.

The stunning star made the announcement this morning (20.01.14) at an intimate brunch held at London's The Ritz hotel to celebrate her decade in the music industry.

Katherine exclusively told BANG Showbiz: ''This album is going to be a return to an earlier sound. I made my first six albums with Decca, since then I've been able to experiment and try new things and I know what I like.

''Now at album 10 I'm able to go back to the start and an album true to the roots of classical music. It's about encouraging more people into classical music, but still doing it in a way I feel really passionate about.''

The 33-year-old blonde insists she would have no qualms about teaming up with a mainstream pop artist in order to make her world-famous classical music more accessible, citing soulful singer Adele as her number one pick.

Katherine added: ''I'd totally be willing to try a collaboration with a different kind of artist. I know that I don't want to be a pop artist, but I think to mix up genres is always really interesting.

''Purely on the voice, I would love to do something with Adele and she's half Welsh. I think she's a strong, female, emotional voice and I would like to see how that could work.''

The songbird recently received an OBE for services to music and charity in the 2014 New Year Honours List.