At the weekend, one of the paparazzi left their lunch box filled with half-eaten pasta salad on my doorstep: it was like a little warning, you know? 'We have been here.'

People see you sing in a certain way, in a long dress, and you are put on a pedestal like you have never made a mistake in your life.

I am a perfectionist.

I can't leave the studio until everything is as it should be. And I can't put a record out unless I am completely happy with it. I never want to be at a signing and hear my album playing and think, 'Oh no, I could have done that top note better.'

I sing a mixture of everything from opera, folk music, Broadway. It's a mix of things.

People perceive opera and classical as elitist - I disagree. I've always tried to mix the two, make it more accessible.

I'd love to play Carmen - it's the perfect mezzo role.