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.

The musical heritage of Yorkshire is deep and wide.

That was when I realised that music is the most profound, magical form of communication there is.

Singing is an arduous business and it needs sacrifices.

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

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.

Music is there to access those dark emotional corners that we don't normally get too close to.

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.

To tell you the truth, I never listen to opera at home.

I'm engaging my diaphragm as I'm speaking to you right now.

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.

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

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.

I do a lot of vocal hygiene.

I do hope that our spring will be starting shortly and we will all be able to enjoy some sunshine again.