Manon risks her life to save her jewellery. Why does she do that?
She’s not sure what the future holds for her. She can see herself having to fend for herself, so she wants some security.

Would you say Russians and glamour go hand-in-glove?
Well, many Russians love the glamourous lifestyle, yes. But then again: Russia’s no different from other countries in that there’s a huge range of different characters and not everyone is interested in glamour. I for one am not into glitter and finery and what-have-you. I adore nature and the huge distances out there. Whenever I want to recharge my batteries, I go for a walk, preferably by some remote lake, or huddle up in front of the fireplace and stare into the flames. It gives me energy – and connects me to what I call the “cosmic secret”.

What is it about Manon that fascinates you?
We all make mistakes, just like Manon. We shouldn’t castigate her too much! It’s a part with quite a lot of bandwidth – she goes from being a young girl who can hardly plan more than a fortnight ahead to someone whose final aria, “Sola, perduta, abbandonata”, is the lament of a weak, lonely and abandoned woman who realises that she’s been dreaming of the wrong kind of life. She ends up alone before God, without family or friends. I have to convey the evolution of her character - in just three hours.

Manon Lescaut loves glamour. What’s it to us?
If you ask me, glamour is overrated. It may have its allure when we’re young, but the older you get, the more it loses its sheen.

Your own personal bling moment?
For me, bling means sensing that your fellow singers respect you. Those are the moments that sparkle. When people from the orchestra or chorus come up to me and tell me how well I sang such and such a part or how much they enjoyed listening to me, that’s when I feel the power of music. Maybe that’s a strange kind of glamour – but those are the moments that sparkle for me.