The meteoric rise of Alfie Boe, the former car mechanic heard singing opera while painting the underside of a car, has hit a new high when he became the only artist nominated for two awards at this year's Classical Brits.
The 34-year-old, who is in discussion to make his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, was 19 when a customer heard him belting out arias in the paint workshop at TVR cars at Fleetwood, Lancashire.
He suggested that Boe audition for D'Oyly Carte, the light opera company.
He did and ended up at the Royal College of Music - he was homeless and slept in a London park for a week when he arrived to take up his place - and then on the Royal Opera House training programme.
"Regardless of the result, it's so rewarding to have these nominations," he said.
He has been nominated for male artist of the year after releasing his second and third albums, Onward, a compilation of hymns, and La Passione, a collection of Neapolitan arias, and for album of the year with Onward.
Source: The Telegraph
