How did you discover opera?

My parents are music lovers and in our household we were always singing and collecting LPs. I started listening to operas that my father gave me, and the combination of drama and beauty just took my breath away. I just thought, “I want to do this” and I never doubted I would, not knowing then how much work this career involves! So somehow I’ve ended up here and I’m very happy.

Gun-Brit BarkminGun-Brit Barkmin. Photo © Florian Kalotay

Were you inspired by particular singers?

Of course I loved Maria Callas. No soprano can escape her, she is a legend. I also admired singers like Lili Lehman, who was actually a teacher of my first teacher, and of course Kirsten Flagstad and Birgit Nilsson. How these singers treated the language and their technique – they all share a sense of discipline that I really appreciate.

You made your Australian debut with West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s concert performance of Tristan und Isolde, stepping in at very late notice. How was that experience?

It was stressful, in a word. Very stressful! Obviously I’m not a coward [laughs]. You have to know...