Soprano Lesley Garrett: Opera must reflect changing society

Lesley Garrett is campaigning for composers to write more opera roles for older sopranos. “There are almost none to be honest,” the singer tells Classic FM’s Charlotte Green (Culture Club, Sunday 28 June 3pm), “Because we have much better health care, we have better training, we have the wonder of HRT, we’re all singing on into our 60s and 70s. Women now are captains of industry, we’re holding great offices of state, we’re running countries, and this has to be reflected in the writing of opera…otherwise its going to be seen as a museum art form.”