When you think of the opera singer Alfie Boe, your mind might go to his tremendous performances in Les Mis, his long-running collaboration with fellow West End star Michael Ball, or even his seemingly relentless appearances on This Morning. You might not expect a solo album full of personal songs about family and finding peace. It was a bold move, then, after years of covering revered works in opera, classical and musical theatre, to release his first ever album of (mostly) original material. For Boe, it was simply a case of now or never.
We meet in a plush private members’ club in Chelsea, Boe looking unassuming as he walks over with a brown cap pulled over his brow. He orders a pot of Earl Grey and takes the cap off, revealing a close crop of dark hair. He seems a little anxious, but then, with an album titled Face Myself, he’s probably realised belatedly that he’s waved the red flag to the bulls (journalists) eager to pry into the life of a man once dubbed “the bad boy of opera”.
