Hello I'm Kirstie Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive.

For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music.

The program was originally broadcast in 1993 and the presenter was Sue Lolly. My castaway this week is an opera singer. She believes passionately that Opera should be popular.

It's not surprising then to learn that both of her grandfathers were musical entertainers.

She won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, moved straight into performing and was snapped up by the English

National Opera for whom she sung many leading roles. She likes to have fun. On stage, she's

walked on a tightrope and bared her bottom. She admires Madonna and Tom Jones as much as Pavarotti and is proud

to be called Britain's darling diva. She is Leslie Garrett. In fact you've been compared to

Madonna on occasions haven't't you, Leslie?

Yes, I have.

I think this was mainly through a costume that I wore in a rather infamous production

of Difladermouse.

It was the famous Basque with the conical brassiere which I must admit I really

enjoyed wearing it was such fun to see all those faces go wow goodness me can this be an opera singer.

But it was a take-off of Madonna.

You got the Fishnet Dietz and the Long Black Bluffs and song.

Yes, I did.

But you didn't mind being compared to us the point.

It was great fun.

Frankly, as long as it interests people in the music and encourages people to come

and hear for themselves what we're doing and see more, perhaps more importantly, what we're

doing, then I'm game for anything, frankly. That was the time you bared your bottom as well.

...