My mum used to say to me, 'Spit on yer 'ands and take a fresh 'old.' Keep going even if you have setbacks.

My mum used to say to me, 'Spit on yer 'ands and take a fresh 'old.' Keep going even if you have setbacks.

And woven into the fabric of this harsh existence was music.

I also have to support my speaking voice by sitting in a way that engages the diaphragm in the way I would for singing.

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.

Opera is credible drama now, and it costs less than going to a football match. What have you got to lose?

Singing is an arduous business and it needs sacrifices.