She was once the diva from Doncaster. Now, thanks to television and a couple of non-classical albums, she is Britain's favourite soprano.

At this concert, Lesley Garrett received a standing ovation for her performance with the Northern Sinfonia.

I couldn't quite join in with the heady applause she received. Nearly but not quite.

I admit she has an excellent soprano voice, ideal for Handel, Purcell and Rossini and she made a superb job of Janacel's The Cunning Little Vixen.

But when she crossed over into pop music, that voice just didn't interest me the way it does in the opera house.

I applaud her popular success, however, and the capacity audience dearly loved all she did and they were of all ages.