INTERVIEW: Alfie Boe
- Posted on November 9, 2007 10:22 AM
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The Passion Behind Alfie Boe
Interview by Katie Spain
Are you a classical music fan? If it took you more than ten seconds to answer that question, maybe you are and you don't even know it.
Classical music weaves its way through our daily life like the threads in finely woven silk. That blockbuster movie you saw last night? Yep - it featured a soundtrack made in Operatic heaven. That man humming on his way to work? You betcha... that was Classical too. The sports car you saw advertised on TV this morning? Bet you didn't notice those wheels spun to the sound or Mozart. The music business and all its players were influenced by classical masters in one way or another. Just ask Paul McCartney... and if you saw Metallica perform with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra you'll know what I mean.
But what influences Classical star Alfie Boe? What lead this young Englishman away from the his drum kit and into the arms of the world of Opera?
When I caught up with Alfie to discuss the release of his latest album 'La Passione', the English operatic tenor talked with careful consideration and a gleam in his eye. This is a man who deserves lashes of respect and yet, you couldn't find a more down to earth chap if you tried. As we talk about Italy; the country that inspired his latest album, we touch on musical memories, Bob Dylan, lutes and of course, The Passion.
Firstly Alfie, where are you from?
I’m from a town in Lancashire called Fleetwood, which is in the North West of England. I’m from a little old fishing town; it is a long time since I have been there though.
Do you enjoy a spot of fishing yourself?
I do but I’m useless at fly fishing, I love sea fishing though; I like sitting back and throwing a rod in and waiting to see what bites.
You should try some Aussie fishing. I hear the fish are big there...
That was the first place that I went fishing actually. The only fishing that I have done in Fleetwood involved sitting on the back of a trawler, pulling in a net. Proper sea fishing though; we caught so much, it was incredible.
Let’s move on to your music. Has music always been a part of your life? Are your parents quite musical people?
Yeah, I grew up listening to music around the house – whether it was Pop music or Classical or somebody playing the radio or their albums. My father used to listen to a lot old Classical music. After dinner we would sit around and listen to them. I would rather have been in the garden or watching the television though; I wasn’t aware of the affect that it was having on me till later on in life when I discovered it again and it brought back so many memories. It wasn’t till I started to sing that I realised my voice could do this; I never thought I could become a professional singer out of it though.
Have you always been in to Classical music or have you ever had a Rock phase?
Well, I loved Rock music but I was always more of a drummer than a singer. I used to be in lots of bands called Funky Jungle, Road House and Whiskey Train; singing was never really something that I thought I could do as a profession. I took part in some amateur operatics. I used to sing a lot of musical theatre and a few ballads and 1950s ballads and things – sometimes a bit if Swing music. It wasn’t until I started singing Classical music that I realised what my voice was best suited for. Secretly though, I would have like to have been a Rock star, Meat Loaf was an Opera singer!
Can you talk us through your musical career so far?
I was nineteen when I packed in my job in a car factory; I was a body mechanic. I then joined a touring opera company. After that tour had finished, I went to the Royal College Of Music, I studied there for three years. Then I went to the National Opera Studio and studied there for a year. I then started singing at all the UK Opera Houses. When I was working at the Royal Opera House I was offered a job on Broadway in New York for Baz Luhrmann in his production La boheme. When I came back, I got a record deal and here I am.
Did you feel like you were living the high life?
Yeah, it was cool; it was really good. It was very exciting; I had never been to America before. I loved New York; it is an amazing city to be in, there is such a buzz about the place. To work with a movie director like Baz Luhrmann was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss. He is a genius; I learnt so much from the guy. It was a great time in my career – one I will never forget.
Will we see you in any more theatre?
That is something that is very important to the whole team and to me. I am at the English National Opera again in the next year and at the Royal Opera House at the end of the year. We are trying fit two productions in each year.
Will we ever see you at the Sydney Opera House?
Well, that is one thing that is on the cards. I think there is a production that we are in talks with; I’m looking forward to that.
You have had a huge past twelve months. You were nominated for a Classical BRIT award and were up against Sir Paul McCartney and Sting. Did you go along to the awards?
I did, I was singing that night. It was such an event; I was singing away and I could see Paul McCartney peeping round at me. Sting had been on a quarter of an hour before me. It was amazing to share the stage with those guys. Those fellas are so important to the Classical world. Sting brought out the lute album; there were a lot of issues with it because it was new and different - it’s incredible though. When you listen to what he has done, it is incredible to understand his structure of Classical music and how it affects him. He does an amazing job. It is very spiritual, very solid and very emotional music to listen to. It is great to have people like Sting and Paul McCartney promoting Classical as well as Pop.
Do you still get nervous before you hit the stage?
If you didn’t get nervous – well, that is the day to stop. A friend of mine, a comedian in Blackpool, told me that if you don’t get nervous then you should assess things and maybe call it a day. I believe that if you don’t get nervous then your performance won’t be as good. Its adrenaline; a rush that you get, it is wanting to do well and to perform well. If you can channel that energy into a good performance then you are doing alright.
I was watching your video which went through the process of the shoot in Italy with the Philharmonic Orchestra. There is one bit which I loved because you looked at the audience and said: ‘I’m nervous.’ What was the recording process like?
It was great. To sing with the Philharmonic Orchestra is incredible. To have them for three days to record with is a dream come true. Again, the nervousness, it is just wanting to do well and to not hold the band back. It was important that I did it all right and that I was on good form. It was fun too, once I had got into it.
Then you went to Italy to do the filming – the scenery is stunning. When you went over and sang in that environment, did that seal it for you?
That is the home of where the music comes from. That is what it was written for. It was a special moment. I had the opportunity to sing in the hotel that we were staying in. It was called Hotel Caruso, which is also the name of the single on the album. It is dedicated to Pavarotti who is also a big fan of Caruso. Singing in Italy – wherever you are - makes it feel so different.
Did you have many of the locals standing around and watching?
The hotel was full so we did try to be as quiet as possible and not disturb them but we got a really good reception from the crowd. As thanks to them, one evening after dinner, I gave them a concert. It was a good opportunity to sing to a crowd as well as do a video.
You are also appearing on ITV’S Loose Women; are you prepared for that?
Well, this is the third time that I will have been on. Every time I go on, you have to really prepare yourself; it’s like going in to a lions den. They are lovely girls though; they really are lovely people; they look after me very well.
What is the most memorable concert or gig you have ever been to?
Bob Dylan. I went to see him in France; it was incredible. He played a lot of his new tracks and then came out and did All Along the Watch Tower at the end. It was quite a big venue just outside Paris; we managed to get right to the front too.
For more information about Alfie Boe, check out his official site.
Take a look at Alfie Boe and his latest listings on Seatwave.
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