You write most of your own songs, what inspires you? JOHN MADIGAN, VIA E-MAILIt depends. Tonight I was in a rare moment by myself and a melody and lyrics came to me - and I did not have my tape recorder right there so I had to run around and look for it. That was more of a gospel inspiration song, and that happens a lot with those type of songs. Mariah Carey was born in Long Island, New York, on March 27, 1970. She moved to New York City at the age of 17, just one day after graduating from high school, to pursue a music career.
She rose to stardom on the strength of a voice that has earned her frequent comparison to rivals Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. It's 2pm on a Friday afternoon, but the performance is mesmerising. Surely the LSO won't regret its decision.The Kirov Ballet and Opera companies, directed by Valery Gergiev, are at the Royal Opera House, London WC2 (020-7304 4000) from 18 July to 6 August. While he throws on yesterday's concert shirt, he reminds me that he's conducting the World Orchestra for Peace at the Proms in August, and has just started saying how he's looking forward to coming to Covent Garden in July when the manager drags me away.Just 10 minutes late, Gergiev bounds on stage to conduct L'apr?midi d'un faune with absolute commitment.
"We will do Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina in a way that fully respects the traditions handed down from our predecessors. And when we perform Turandot, we do it with Russian voices - Irina Gordei as Turandot, Vladimir Galuzine as Calaf. We love this opera, but of course people will say, why Turandot? You can't force people to bow and say, 'Yes sir, we're going to love it', even before they hear it." He needn't worry - the Kirov residency in London will sell out whatever the repertoire."Three minutes, Mr Gergiev." The general manager of the Israel Philharmonic hammers on the door before I've had time to ask about Gergiev's fundraising activities for the children of Beslan, a tragedy that took place not far from his home town in Ossetia. We should never stop bringing our traditions to audiences around the world, and exchanging our cultural riches. This is happening in London with our regular residencies at Covent Garden.