I really see myself as a homegirl. Wales is my first home. London is my second home - I've been ther...
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I really see myself as a homegirl. Wales is my first home. London is my second home - I've been there 14 years now.
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Yes. I do about 70 shows a year, in the past year I've been to Italy, Australia, Japan, China, just ...
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Yes. I do about 70 shows a year, in the past year I've been to Italy, Australia, Japan, China, just about everywhere. I do it because I love singing. The money is a bonus.
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Growing up with my family gave me some of my best memories. I'd like to have a family of my own - sl...
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Growing up with my family gave me some of my best memories. I'd like to have a family of my own - slip away for a bit and do nothing but spend those early years with my children.
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I wasn't the best in my class at the Royal Academy. There was a really good soprano and baritone who...
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I wasn't the best in my class at the Royal Academy. There was a really good soprano and baritone who were technically better and are doing really well in opera now. But I was definitely the best mezzo-soprano in my class, because I was the only one of those!
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After doing Doctor Who (2005), I'm open-minded to doing more acting. Part of the reason you do a sho...
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After doing Doctor Who (2005), I'm open-minded to doing more acting. Part of the reason you do a show like this is because it creates other opportunities you haven't had before.
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I get 'voluptuous' a lot, or 'shapely,' but the fact is that as you get older you learn to embrace y...
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I get 'voluptuous' a lot, or 'shapely,' but the fact is that as you get older you learn to embrace your body type. I wasn't able to do that until I was at least 23.
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My music appeals in America. There is less of the purist criticism I get here. And to be a hit in th...
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My music appeals in America. There is less of the purist criticism I get here. And to be a hit in the U.S... what singer doesn't have that dream?
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When I dance, I forget everything else and just feel completely happy.
When I dance, I forget everything else and just feel completely happy.
Everything in my career is my decision - every picture, every outfit. You get one chance at this, an...
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Everything in my career is my decision - every picture, every outfit. You get one chance at this, and I never saw myself as being a puppet.
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Singing has always been my big passion and I would love to be able to go to the U.S. and perform mor...
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Singing has always been my big passion and I would love to be able to go to the U.S. and perform more.
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For me, with the Blue Man Group, I got asked. It was for the Royal Variety Show, which was something...
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For me, with the Blue Man Group, I got asked. It was for the Royal Variety Show, which was something I always wanted to be a part of. I'm really interested in things people don't necessarily expect. I did a pop song, but I did it in my own style.
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I'd love to play Carmen - it's the perfect mezzo role.
I'd love to play Carmen - it's the perfect mezzo role.
I've always said that I count myself as a classical crossover artist. To be so, you have to have the...
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I've always said that I count myself as a classical crossover artist. To be so, you have to have the core classical training, which I did for many, many years, but also be interested in the pop side of things. You can fit in somewhere in the middle. I feel I do that really well.
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I can't leave the studio until everything is as it should be. And I can't put a record out unless I ...
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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.'
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In Heaven, I believe my dad is somewhere doing something nice. I feel I've been too lucky to travel ...
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In Heaven, I believe my dad is somewhere doing something nice. I feel I've been too lucky to travel this far without somebody guiding me.
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With 'Believe' bringing really big success for me outside of the U.K. for the first time, it meant I...
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With 'Believe' bringing really big success for me outside of the U.K. for the first time, it meant I have been touring around the world and that led to a gap from the studio. I really feel like the gap has done me the world of good. Throughout that time I was able to collect songs that I really loved.
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I always choose songs that I have an emotional connection to, and I often feel myself getting very e...
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I always choose songs that I have an emotional connection to, and I often feel myself getting very emotional when I sing.
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People see you sing in a certain way, in a long dress, and you are put on a pedestal like you have n...
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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.
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I'm a Cancerian, the typical crab with the tough outer shell and the soft bit in the middle. I don't...
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I'm a Cancerian, the typical crab with the tough outer shell and the soft bit in the middle. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with people being unnecessarily nasty, but I can take it if someone doesn't like my music - I'm not everyone's cup of tea.
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I love coming back to Neath - this is home and always will be.
I love coming back to Neath - this is home and always will be.
I'm not naturally a person that wants to exercise, but I find running is something I can do wherever...
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I'm not naturally a person that wants to exercise, but I find running is something I can do wherever I am in the world.
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The diva tag just won't go away. I think that's because people want me to be like that. It makes it ...
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The diva tag just won't go away. I think that's because people want me to be like that. It makes it more interesting if I have thrown a phone at somebody or a water bottle. Sadly that's just not me.
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Marilyn Monroe was supposedly a size 16, which is probably why I love her style; it suits me better.
Marilyn Monroe was supposedly a size 16, which is probably why I love her style; it suits me better.
Being a question on The Weakest Link (2000), that was quite a moment.
Being a question on The Weakest Link (2000), that was quite a moment.
From as young as I can remember, I always wanted to be a singer... My mum taught me 'Going Down the ...
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From as young as I can remember, I always wanted to be a singer... My mum taught me 'Going Down the Garden to Eat Worms' for a competition when I was about 4.
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With all the hundreds of dresses and shoes I have, it would be an absolute crime if I don't have a l...
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With all the hundreds of dresses and shoes I have, it would be an absolute crime if I don't have a little girl. I have a whole room at home filled with my stage wear.
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At the weekend, one of the paparazzi left their lunch box filled with half-eaten pasta salad on my d...
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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.'
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I'm over the moon to be involved in the Doctor Who (2005) Christmas special. I can't quite believe i...
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I'm over the moon to be involved in the Doctor Who (2005) Christmas special. I can't quite believe it as it's a part of the family tradition at the Jenkins household. I heard the news that I got the role on my 30th birthday and it was the best birthday present ever.
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You learn your lessons from the mistakes you make, not the things you achieve.
You learn your lessons from the mistakes you make, not the things you achieve.
For stage wear and gowns, Julien McDonald, who is a friend of mine. I love that he can be totally ov...
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For stage wear and gowns, Julien McDonald, who is a friend of mine. I love that he can be totally over the top for stage wear!
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I am fussy, about my diet and straining my voice. I know, sounds a bit over the top. But I'm not as ...
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I am fussy, about my diet and straining my voice. I know, sounds a bit over the top. But I'm not as bad as I used to be. These days I don't drink alcohol for five days before a show - very dehydrating for the vocal cords, and all that acid reflux. I used to ban it for a fortnight. Nightmare.
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I do not understand where the idea came from that opera is only for privileged people, I am as happy...
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I do not understand where the idea came from that opera is only for privileged people, I am as happy singing before 70,000 people at the Millennium Stadium, as I am in front of a few hundred in a small concert hall.
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I did once shatter a chandelier. I was singing with my college choir in Wales. I was the soloist and...
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I did once shatter a chandelier. I was singing with my college choir in Wales. I was the soloist and I hit the high note and there was this massive bang and all this glass came down from the ceiling. I'd like that to be my party trick if I can perfect it.
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I sing a mixture of everything from opera, folk music, Broadway. It's a mix of things.
I sing a mixture of everything from opera, folk music, Broadway. It's a mix of things.
I have to believe that I know what's best for me. For instance, I choose all my songs. I never recor...
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I have to believe that I know what's best for me. For instance, I choose all my songs. I never record anything I don't want to record. No one tells me what concerts to do.
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I think maybe because of the kind of music I sing, people want to believe you're a diva. They can't ...
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I think maybe because of the kind of music I sing, people want to believe you're a diva. They can't believe after eight years, and eight albums, you're still relatively sane. I feel like they almost want me to throw something at somebody.
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I've only ever wanted to be a singer; I never wanted to be famous.
I've only ever wanted to be a singer; I never wanted to be famous.
Oh, stuff the critics. I don't care. Too many people are snooty about classical. Look, I wasn't brou...
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Oh, stuff the critics. I don't care. Too many people are snooty about classical. Look, I wasn't brought up in a home where we listened to classical music. It was a singing teacher that thought it would be best for my voice. Then I moved into crossover. And if that makes the music accessible to more people, then great.
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I have such happy memories of performing in a choir and I don't think I'd have got where I am today ...
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I have such happy memories of performing in a choir and I don't think I'd have got where I am today without all that experience. So my advice to young singers is to either join your school or church's choir or find one in your local area. Choral music at any level teaches you so much about musicianship and blending your voice.
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I want to have kids. I want to get married. That is still very important to me.
I want to have kids. I want to get married. That is still very important to me.
I'm still a Welsh girl at heart so I'm staying in the U.K. for the Olympics, it's such an exciting t...
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I'm still a Welsh girl at heart so I'm staying in the U.K. for the Olympics, it's such an exciting time for Britain so it's amazing to be a part of it.
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I go home and don't get treated any differently. People have known me all my life and are interested...
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I go home and don't get treated any differently. People have known me all my life and are interested and very supportive but because they have known me forever I don't get any diva treatment. My mum still tells me off if I haven't loaded the dishwasher for her.
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I'm launching my own festival in South Wales. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. It's...
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I'm launching my own festival in South Wales. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. It's going to be held at Margam Park, because I wanted the venue to be as close to my home as possible.
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Children should be able to live a life free from bullying and harassment and it is time that we all ...
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Children should be able to live a life free from bullying and harassment and it is time that we all took a stand against this.
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My mother and father were perfect role models. They were together for 25 years and very much in love...
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My mother and father were perfect role models. They were together for 25 years and very much in love. But I've got too much to do now. I'm only 27.
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I love to listen to pop music and I admire people who do that, but I don't think I would ever be a v...
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I love to listen to pop music and I admire people who do that, but I don't think I would ever be a very good pop star. I always leave that singing voice for the shower! I wouldn't put it out in the world!
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If you love somebody, you love them. My parents had a 25-year age gap between them and my mum was th...
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If you love somebody, you love them. My parents had a 25-year age gap between them and my mum was the breadwinner, my dad the house husband. I'm a strong believer that a good relationship can work, whatever the situation.
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Sad news Jimmy Savile has passed away. My sis & I always wanted a Jim'll Fix It (1975) badge/medal. ...
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Sad news Jimmy Savile has passed away. My sis & I always wanted a Jim'll Fix It (1975) badge/medal. Loved that show. Great memories.
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I'm a huge supporter of the military. I think they do an incredible job. So when I get invited to go...
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I'm a huge supporter of the military. I think they do an incredible job. So when I get invited to go out and sing for them, some of the best moments of my life.
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Confidence is one of the sexiest things.
Confidence is one of the sexiest things.
2012 was the year I saw Twitter as a negative. More people need to realise that not everything they ...
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2012 was the year I saw Twitter as a negative. More people need to realise that not everything they read is true and that Internet trolls are a real problem.
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I've been lucky that I've performed with a lot of the classical people I've wanted to work with so I...
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I've been lucky that I've performed with a lot of the classical people I've wanted to work with so I'd like to do something that people didn't see coming. Like Madonna, or being Welsh - the Tom Jones thing. Or somebody suggested N-Dubz - that would be brilliant!
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I have a long fuse.
I have a long fuse.
When I did 'Dancing with the Stars' I did lose an awful lot of weight and I think at the time everyb...
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When I did 'Dancing with the Stars' I did lose an awful lot of weight and I think at the time everybody was sort of alarmed by it. You can eat anything and it is still dropping off you when you are doing that amount of exercise.
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I do follow a version of the Dukan diet, but I don't follow it to the extreme so a lot of fish and v...
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I do follow a version of the Dukan diet, but I don't follow it to the extreme so a lot of fish and vegetables. If I want chocolate I'll let myself have a bit of chocolate in moderation.
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I would absolutely, definitely never sell my wedding pictures to a magazine. I'd like it to be a spe...
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I would absolutely, definitely never sell my wedding pictures to a magazine. I'd like it to be a special day, not a photo shoot. And once you've done that, your marriage becomes everybody else's business.
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I was such a geek in school.
I was such a geek in school.
Beatbullying's 'The Big March 2012' is such a brilliant campaign and I am very proud to be a part of...
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Beatbullying's 'The Big March 2012' is such a brilliant campaign and I am very proud to be a part of it. I have been a victim of cyber bullying myself and I know firsthand just how hurtful it can be. People think that they can hide behind computers and send nasty and hurtful comments to people, and this is wrong.
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If my mum thinks I'm acting like a diva she'll soon tell me off... She'll cut me down to size!
If my mum thinks I'm acting like a diva she'll soon tell me off... She'll cut me down to size!
I have never called myself an opera singer. Other people do, but I always call myself a classical si...
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I have never called myself an opera singer. Other people do, but I always call myself a classical singer. I'd love to do opera, but I'm still too young and I don't want to do it until I'm ready. I realise that when I do that it's going to be... up for discussion, shall we say, so I want to get it right.
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You're now getting a new breed of people like Il Divo and Andrea Bocelli and I think that's why peop...
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You're now getting a new breed of people like Il Divo and Andrea Bocelli and I think that's why people feel less intimidated by classical music than they once did.
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My idol was Marilyn Monroe, who was a size 16, I think, and curvy in all the right places. I will ne...
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My idol was Marilyn Monroe, who was a size 16, I think, and curvy in all the right places. I will never be stick thin. I remember a shoot where I had to get into these tiny hot pants, and I thought, 'God, I wish I hadn't eaten.'
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Although I'm not shy when I'm singing, I am whenever I hear applause. I don't know if you've noticed...
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Although I'm not shy when I'm singing, I am whenever I hear applause. I don't know if you've noticed, but I giggle a lot on-stage. That's shyness. And the stage manager is always telling me to take a longer bow whenever I come off-stage. I still haven't learnt to do that properly. I see other artistes milking the applause, but I can't quite do it.
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I wish I got a little bit more time at home. I am away a lot and being around my loved ones and frie...
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I wish I got a little bit more time at home. I am away a lot and being around my loved ones and friends is good for me. It grounds me. It's something I need to make more time for. I think I need a little more balance.
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I always want to give my best and do the best I can. I know when I have sung my best and when I have...
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I always want to give my best and do the best I can. I know when I have sung my best and when I haven't. There can be stresses and hassles with time travel and press attention. I just have to adapt and find a way of dealing with it.
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I really feel confident about my dancing now, so I hope there could be a place for me in the West En...
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I really feel confident about my dancing now, so I hope there could be a place for me in the West End or on Broadway - maybe a musical, maybe my own show.
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I am a perfectionist.
I am a perfectionist.
People perceive opera and classical as elitist - I disagree. I've always tried to mix the two, make ...
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People perceive opera and classical as elitist - I disagree. I've always tried to mix the two, make it more accessible.
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