0:00:02 > 0:00:04Now then, listen to this rags-to-riches story.
0:00:04 > 0:00:09A few years ago, a young man painted sports cars in a factory in his home town.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Whilst he worked, he sang.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15A customer overheard and suggested he should audition for a world-class opera company.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19They took him on, and so began the journey that would lead to the West End and Broadway.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Well, that singer is my guest on this week's Songs Of Praise.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25His name - Alfie Boe.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27- # If I die... # - Alfie has had
0:00:27 > 0:00:30a wonderfully varied career.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33He performs not just in operas, but musicals such as Les Miserables,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35and he's recorded hymns and pop songs.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Alfie refuses to be pigeonholed
0:00:41 > 0:00:44and is driven by a passion for good music.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50In this special Songs Of Praise,
0:00:50 > 0:00:54Alfie talks about the importance to him of faith and family.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58He learns more about the power of music through the work of a special charity
0:00:58 > 0:01:01and, together with an invited congregation,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Alfie performs some of his favourite songs and hymns.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14I'm here at the world-renowned AIR recording studios in North London,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17which, incidentally, used to be a church.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20We have our congregation ready and eager to sing.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24But there's one person missing from the party, and that's our special guest.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Alfie Boe!
0:01:27 > 0:01:30APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- First, congratulations on a glittering career.- Thank you.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40- You're riding high. - It's going really well.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- Enjoying life, then?- Absolutely.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Have you recorded in these studios before?
0:01:45 > 0:01:46I have. Recently, actually.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49It's a wonderful place, with a lot of history.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Usually recording studios are quite sterile, aren't they?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54They are, yeah. And very lonely, as well.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57You're normally in a vocal booth on your own,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59drinking lots of tea and eating honey.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- Ah, that's the secret! Not lonely today, though.- No! Absolutely.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05- Are you looking forward to it? - Very much so.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- Are you going to lead us in our first hymn?- Yes, I chose Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- That good Welsh hymn. - Absolutely. In honour of you, Aled!
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Thank you very much, Alfie. The stage is yours.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- Hey. Well done.- Hey, thanks, Aled. - Sung like a true Welshman!
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- Bless you, thank you. - You enjoyed that.- I did, I did.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- It's one of my favourite hymns. - You were born in Blackpool.- Yes.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43- Alfred Giovanni Roncalli Boe. - Thanks for that(!) Cheers.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45It just trips off the tongue, it really does!
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Alfie for short.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- Named after a Pope?- Yes, Pope John XXIII, I was named after.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53There's no Italian in the family at all,
0:04:53 > 0:04:59I was just named after the Pope, so I suppose recording star,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01West End, Broadway...
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Vatican is the next place for me, I suppose.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- You haven't sung there yet? - I haven't yet, no.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08That's one for the list!
0:05:08 > 0:05:10You're from a Catholic family.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- One of nine children. - Yeah, the youngest of nine.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14I have five sisters and three brothers.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- What was that like growing up? - Wonderful.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Lots of music around the house. The house was never empty.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24It was just a noisy place. It was wonderful though, really nice.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27And how important was the Catholicism side of growing up?
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Very important, you know. It still is to me now.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33I mean, my faith is something that's very strong to me.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37As a performer, Aled, you must know that you need a lot of faith
0:05:37 > 0:05:40to get up and do what we have to do, to believe it's going to go well,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42believe that you're on the right path.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47- What's it like when you're up there? When I'm on stage...- Scary! - Apart from scary!
0:05:47 > 0:05:51When you're in darkness with one light on you, do you feel that's your connection with God?
0:05:51 > 0:05:55For me, that's more powerful than even going to church.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58No, I do feel that, very much so.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02'It's very difficult to explain to somebody who's not a performer
0:06:02 > 0:06:05'the little journey you go through to produce a song
0:06:05 > 0:06:08'and produce an emotion. But no, you're right.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11'When the light hits you and you're on that stage on your own,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14'that's your world and that's a very spiritual place.'
0:06:14 > 0:06:19- Lots in your career has happened by chance. Do you believe in a guiding hand?- I do, I do.
0:06:19 > 0:06:26I remember the day that it happened, I got this impulse to perform.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29It was just like somebody had switched a light on
0:06:29 > 0:06:33or lit a flame inside me that I wanted to perform.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It was a very strange feeling
0:06:35 > 0:06:39and I haven't stopped pursuing my ultimate goal from that day onwards.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- Do you think what you've got is a God-given gift?- Absolutely.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I mean, all our talents are God-given, you know,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and I believe that it's just what you do with them that matters.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53You have to use them to the best of your ability to help others.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- So in a way, you're singing to glorify God.- Exactly, yeah. Without a doubt.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Well, thank you very much for now, Alfie.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04There'll be more from Alfred Roncalli - no, Giovanni Roncalli Boe... Confusing me!
0:07:04 > 0:07:05..in a short while.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07When this building was a church,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10I'm sure this next hymn was sung here on numerous occasions.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15It's great that our congregation are giving it an airing now. It's To God Be The Glory.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Although fame has changed Alfie's life,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16he's still keen to support causes close to his heart,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19especially those connected to music.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24This event is a fundraiser for the charity Nordoff Robbins,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27who help ill and disabled children and adults through music therapy.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30He's here to collect an award from his friend,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32the comedian Matt Lucas.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36He's a fantastic artist, he's really broken through this year,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39and he definitely deserves this award.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Please welcome the UK's leading tenor,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Mr Alfie Boe, ladies and gentlemen.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Thank you so much and thank you for that wonderful introduction, Matt.
0:10:52 > 0:10:58I also want to speak on behalf of all the artists in the room
0:10:58 > 0:11:00to thank Nordoff Robbins
0:11:00 > 0:11:05for giving us the opportunity to become therapists,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08in a sense, for such a worthy cause,
0:11:08 > 0:11:13and to help these children and adults get through their trials in life.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16God bless you, and keep up the good work. Thank you.
0:11:16 > 0:11:17APPLAUSE
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Keen to see the work of the charity in action,
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Alfie heads to North London to help at one of their music therapy sessions.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Music is a way of communicating that doesn't need words,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37so it is particularly effective for people
0:11:37 > 0:11:40who can't use words to communicate.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Music makes sense to them.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45It makes sense to somebody, for example, who has autism,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47or an old person with dementia
0:11:47 > 0:11:52and they suddenly find that they can communicate again with the people around them.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57# Listen to everyone
0:11:57 > 0:12:01# Listen to everyone
0:12:01 > 0:12:04# Listen to everyone... #
0:12:04 > 0:12:07That was very special.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10It was a real special moment to be a part of.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13#...and Alfie play Listen to... #
0:12:13 > 0:12:16You can watch so many videos
0:12:16 > 0:12:18and footage of sessions,
0:12:18 > 0:12:23but actually being a part of one and having them hold your hand
0:12:23 > 0:12:27and make contact with you while they're making music
0:12:27 > 0:12:29was something else. Really special.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31# What you are
0:12:32 > 0:12:36# Twinkle, twinkle
0:12:36 > 0:12:40# Little star
0:12:40 > 0:12:41# How I wonder... #
0:12:41 > 0:12:44'Music is a very spiritual thing.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48'It's inside us all and it just takes a tune'
0:12:48 > 0:12:52to ignite the fire inside us, to make us dance, make us sing,
0:12:52 > 0:12:57make us play music and clap our hands, whatever it is.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59But that's the power of music.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27- I enjoyed that. Thanks for singing with me.- Pleasure!
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Now, what's this about being discovered spray-painting cars?
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- It's almost too good to be true. - It really happened, actually.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39I used to get a lot of encouragement from my work colleagues
0:15:39 > 0:15:41to sing and to pursue it,
0:15:41 > 0:15:46but then I used to get a lot of encouragement from customers as well,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48who used to overhear me.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51One guy in particular was buying a car from the factory
0:15:51 > 0:15:55and I was working on it. I was at the end of the line, polishing it, making it look good.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59This gentleman was involved in the business in some form
0:15:59 > 0:16:03and told me about an audition that was taking place in London
0:16:03 > 0:16:05with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09He said, "You'd be really good to go along and sing.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11"Why don't you have a shot?"
0:16:11 > 0:16:14So I did. I came down to London, took the day off work,
0:16:14 > 0:16:20surrounded by lots of classical singers and it wasn't my world.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23They were all there in their suits and their scarves.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25I sang my heart out as best I could and got the job.
0:16:25 > 0:16:30- I got taken on in the ensemble. - It's a great story, isn't it? - It is.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Do you ever think back and imagine,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34"What would have happened if I hadn't got that job?"
0:16:34 > 0:16:39I do sometimes, yeah, but I never really try and look back.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41I'm always looking ahead.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Life's changed for you now as well because you're a father.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Yes, yes I am. Very happy.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50- My little girl, Gracie. - Are you bringing her up through a faith at all?
0:16:50 > 0:16:55Yeah, we're a Catholic family so we're going to be taking her
0:16:55 > 0:16:58through the teaching, so that'll be good.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Have you learnt any parenting skills from your father?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04I can change a nappy in two minutes now.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07In two minutes! That's good.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11I know that your dad was a massive influence on your life, wasn't he?
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- Yes, he was.- Not just musically.
0:17:13 > 0:17:19No, no, my father was a great friend as well as a father.
0:17:19 > 0:17:25He was a lovely guy, and sadly missed, but he taught me a lot.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29- And you were with your dad to the very end?- Yes, I was.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34I was lucky enough to be able to be there at his side
0:17:34 > 0:17:36and holding him while he passed away,
0:17:36 > 0:17:41which is a very special, very spiritual moment,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44and it is a blessing to be able to do that.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48The sadness comes along, but that's only our selfish needs.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52I am blessed that I got to see my father die,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and blessed that I got to see my daughter born.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59It's two ends of the scale. It's a wonderful thing.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Now, I want you to picture the scene, OK?
0:18:01 > 0:18:06At home, wherever you'll be. Gracie comes up to you and says,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09"Dad, I really, really want to follow in your footsteps."
0:18:09 > 0:18:12What does Alfie Boe say to her?
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Don't do it. No, no...
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I would be absolutely thrilled.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20She's already dancing and singing like crazy. She builds her own stages.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23She gets a suitcase and puts it, she says, "This is my stage,"
0:18:23 > 0:18:25and she'll stand on a suitcase and perform.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- I wonder where she gets it from! - I haven't got a clue.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- Well, she's lucky to have you as a dad.- Thank you.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33You're going to sing for us now. What are you going to sing?
0:18:33 > 0:18:36It's a beautiful song called In My Daughter's Eyes.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- If you want to make your way to the stage...- Thank you.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Thanks for now, Alfie.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Well, what a treat. This is going to be brilliant, I assure you.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Alfie Boe singing In My Daughter's Eyes.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07# In my daughter's eyes
0:19:07 > 0:19:10# I am a hero
0:19:11 > 0:19:14# I am strong and wise
0:19:14 > 0:19:17# And I know no fear
0:19:17 > 0:19:21# But the truth is plain to see
0:19:21 > 0:19:24# She was sent to rescue me
0:19:24 > 0:19:28# I see who I want to be
0:19:28 > 0:19:32# In my daughter's eyes
0:19:39 > 0:19:44# In my daughter's eyes
0:19:44 > 0:19:47# Everyone is equal
0:19:47 > 0:19:50# Darkness turns to light
0:19:50 > 0:19:53# And the world's at peace
0:19:53 > 0:19:57# This miracle God gave to me
0:19:57 > 0:20:01# Gives me strength when I am weak
0:20:01 > 0:20:04# I find reason to believe
0:20:04 > 0:20:09# In my daughter's eyes
0:20:09 > 0:20:13# And when she wraps her hand around my finger
0:20:13 > 0:20:16# Oh, it puts a smile in my heart
0:20:16 > 0:20:20# Everything becomes a little clearer
0:20:20 > 0:20:23# I realise what life is all about
0:20:23 > 0:20:27# It's hanging on when your heart has had enough
0:20:27 > 0:20:32# It's giving more when you feel like giving up
0:20:32 > 0:20:34# I've seen the light
0:20:34 > 0:20:39# In my daughter's eyes
0:20:53 > 0:20:57# In my daughter's eyes
0:20:57 > 0:21:00# I can see the future
0:21:01 > 0:21:05# A reflection of who I am
0:21:05 > 0:21:08# And what will be
0:21:08 > 0:21:11# Though she'll grow and some day leave
0:21:11 > 0:21:15# Maybe raise a family
0:21:15 > 0:21:18# When I'm gone, I hope you'll see
0:21:18 > 0:21:22# How happy she made me
0:21:22 > 0:21:27# For I'll be there
0:21:27 > 0:21:44# In my daughter's eyes. #
0:21:50 > 0:21:54APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:21:58 > 0:22:01What did I tell you? Just beautiful.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05In My Daughter's Eyes, poignantly sung there by Alfie Boe.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Whilst he takes a well-deserved break,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09it's time for you to do some singing,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and we're going to carry on with the idea of God-given miracles.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17This is the nation's favourite hymn, How Great Thou Art.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40It's a couple of hours before curtain up,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42and Alfie has arrived at the West End theatre
0:24:42 > 0:24:46where he's appearing as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52This is my little den,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55my little dressing room.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00This is home for the next five months.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02It's cosy, it's nice.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I get myself together here. Put the lights on.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07This is it.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Welcome to my dressing room.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15There's one particular song of Jean Valjean's
0:25:15 > 0:25:17that has a special significance for Alfie.
0:25:17 > 0:25:23Without a doubt, for me the emotional highlight is Bring Him Home,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26which in the show is called The Prayer.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31It's such a beautiful song, but it's also such a beautiful prayer.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36He's praying to God for the protection of Marius,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38who is a student revolutionary
0:25:38 > 0:25:41who has fallen in love with his daughter Cosette.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45It's a very strange feeling that I get whenever I sing it.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I'm actually praying.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52It is a prayer, and I do pray, even if I do this every single night.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55The audience reaction is incredible.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58I think it can really tug at the heartstrings of every listener.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03They seem to really be drawn in by it.
0:26:07 > 0:26:16# God on high
0:26:16 > 0:26:24# Hear my prayer
0:26:24 > 0:26:29# In my need
0:26:29 > 0:26:33# You have always been there
0:26:35 > 0:26:42# He is young
0:26:42 > 0:26:47# He's afraid
0:26:48 > 0:26:53# Let him rest
0:26:53 > 0:26:58# Heaven blessed
0:27:00 > 0:27:05# Bring him home
0:27:05 > 0:27:10# Bring him home
0:27:10 > 0:27:14# Bring him home
0:27:16 > 0:27:19# He's like the son I might have known
0:27:21 > 0:27:23# If God had granted me a son
0:27:25 > 0:27:28# The summers die
0:27:28 > 0:27:29# One by one
0:27:29 > 0:27:33# How soon they fly
0:27:33 > 0:27:34# On and on
0:27:36 > 0:27:39# And I am old
0:27:39 > 0:27:43# And will be gone
0:27:48 > 0:27:55# Bring him peace
0:27:55 > 0:27:59# Bring him joy
0:28:01 > 0:28:05# He is young
0:28:06 > 0:28:10# He is only a boy
0:28:12 > 0:28:17# You can take
0:28:17 > 0:28:23# You can give
0:28:23 > 0:28:28# Let him be
0:28:28 > 0:28:32# Let him live
0:28:33 > 0:28:39# If I die
0:28:39 > 0:28:45# Let me die
0:28:45 > 0:28:51# Let him live
0:28:52 > 0:28:57# Bring him home
0:28:58 > 0:29:02# Bring him home
0:29:05 > 0:29:19# Bring him home. #
0:29:24 > 0:29:28APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:29:30 > 0:29:31- That was fantastic.- Thank you.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35On stage, do you ever pinch yourself that this is actually happening to you?
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Absolutely, every day. I'm a lucky man, very much so.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- You make a lot of people happy. Doesn't he?- AUDIENCE: Yes!
0:29:42 > 0:29:44Thank you so much for your company today,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47and all the best in your fantastic career.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- Many thanks for that, Aled. - Alfie Boe, ladies and gentlemen.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:29:54 > 0:29:57And we're going to end with another stirring hymn,
0:29:57 > 0:29:58Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02From Alfie, myself and all of us here at AIR Studios in London,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04till next time, bye-bye.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Next week, I'm in Halifax in West Yorkshire,
0:33:16 > 0:33:21where I discover the power and the passion of two-wheeled transport.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25There are wonderful hymns from one of Britain's newest minsters,
0:33:25 > 0:33:26and an exclusive chat
0:33:26 > 0:33:30and performance from country music legend Glen Campbell.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:33:49 > 0:33:52E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk