THE
WW L L INTERVIEW
Lesley Garrett, CBE is a soprano singer, musician, broadcaster and media personality and is due to perform at St George’ s Hall next month. In an exclusive interview with Wirral Life, Lesley talks about her family, career and ambitions.
You’ re a famous“ northern lass” with a beautiful voice, but education was important to your parents and at school you got 10“ O” Levels and 2“ A” Levels, one in music. If music had not worked out for you – what career do you think you would have had?
I’ m really interested in politics- I’ m always watching the Prime Minister’ s Question Time- so I probably would have pursued a career as a politician. It’ s such a scary but exciting time in politics with the whole Brexit situation. Although I voted to stay in Europe, I have complete faith in the democratic system. We have a saying in Yorkshire“ spit on your hands and take a fresh hold” so I take that approach!
A famous Wirral benefactor, Lord Leverhulme, thought education was very important and so he built the famous village of Port Sunlight for his workers which included a school, a museum and a theatre, all still very much in use today. Do you think that those who are able to do so today, should be more philanthropic and support communities and young people with access to art and music in the way that Lord Leverhulme did?
Absolutely! I believe that Lord Leverhulme was a saint – he was so enlightened and ahead of his time in the way that he provided such wonderful facilities for his workers. He fully understood how the arts could benefit his employees who became better workers as a result. I feel it is so short-sighted of the government to cut funding in the arts and it saddens me that music is often an optional extra in schools as music touches everyone’ s lives. Children benefit so greatly from music, it helps them to discover who they are and introduces them to other subjects, such as language, geography, maths and history. Plus, music brings immense physical benefits – it
helps you to breathe properly and promotes co-ordination of the mind and body. It’ s such a powerful tool of expression, giving a real emotional release – feel good therapy if you like! I believe all children should have access to music lessons. I think people should definitely support their communities.
Whilst you were at the Royal Academy of Music you did some work as a life model to help fund your studies, did sitting as a model and being looked at so carefully help you prepare for performances in the future? Do you have any of the pictures that were done of you at that time?
Yes, it definitely prepared me for a role I had in an opera when I had to appear nude on stage and certainly helped me get rid of any self-consciousness! I enjoyed being a life model. Being nude never bothered me – it seemed very natural and it was much nicer than other jobs I had when I was a student which included pulling pints behind a bar and washing the dishes! I would be lay there on a mattress on a rotating turntable – I felt like a doner kebab! I used the time to learn my lines – I would go over them in my head. I have got two lovely statues that people made of me which are proudly displayed in our hallway. I have to walk past my 21-year-old self!
You’ ve performed all over the world in various roles, which country did you like to perform in the best and what’ s your favourite role?
Great Britain every time! I love singing in English to English audiences. I’ ve performed in some great venues. I love the London Coliseum and I’ ve had some lovely times performing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Liverpool – they are magnificent. We are so lucky to have so many treasurable theatres in Britain. wirrallife. com 15