Mezzo-sopranos Joyce DiDonato and Janet Baker recently took part in a ROH Insights session which is available to watch in full via the Royal Opera House YouTube channel.
In this clip they discuss what it is to be a singing artist, via a unique analogy for the human voice - that of a glass.
'A glass is not a mirror - you do not see yourself in it', says Dame Janet. 'You look through it at the audience or at the responsibility which you have to the composer and librettist. You have to keep the glass clean and have to be able to see out to that purpose which is bigger than you are. You've also got to allow people to look in.'
Watch more films like this on the Royal Opera House YouTube channel:
Joyce DiDonato is currently performing in Werther, which runs until 13 July 2016. Tickets are still available.
