That was when I realised that music is the most profound, magical form of communication there is.Collection: Communication
I do hope that our spring will be starting shortly and we will all be able to enjoy some sunshine again.
I would just like to say that opera is no longer about fat people in breastplates shattering wine glasses.
I performed in Sydney some years ago for the Sydney Festival and I am just so pleased to be returning to the wonderful Sydney Opera House and also performing in Melbourne for the first time.
As far as I was concerned the important thing was that the music was getting the attention as well as me so it was always a great way to get more of the public to connect with classical music, and opera particularly.
One of the problems that we face through the media attention that these artists receive is that there has been an awful lot of talk about opera and classical music being elite and being for an elitist group.
What people really should be able to be confident in is that the standards of music- making that classically trained musicians present is elite, it is the best and all of us as artists should be committed to that.
It worries me that young singers think you can shortcut the training and go straight to fame and fortune, and programmes like Pop Idol have encouraged that.
I wouldn't want to criticise someone like Charlotte Church because she has done fantastically well, but personally I've always cared about the long term.
I saw The Sound of Music when I was 10 and thought that it was the most beautiful singing I had ever heard.
Opera is credible drama now, and it costs less than going to a football match. What have you got to lose?
I also have to support my speaking voice by sitting in a way that engages the diaphragm in the way I would for singing.Collection: Voice
My mum used to say to me, 'Spit on yer 'ands and take a fresh 'old.' Keep going even if you have setbacks.Collection: Persistence