UNLEASHING his third album in a year must surely make talented tenor Alfie Boe one of the most hardest grafting musicians in the classical world.

Over the last 18 whirlwind months he’s performed an award-winning stint in Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme on Broadway, been nominated for a classical Brit award and stormed the charts.

Not bad going for the Lancashire lad who started out as a mechanic for TVR in Fleetwood before deciding to pursue his dream of singing.

Few have achieved so much in such a short period of time, winning masses of praise from both critics and fans alike. He’s also received the backing of Classic FM whom he describes as his "guardian angels" and plenty of encouragement from Michael Parkinson who has championed him on his chat show.

"It has been a great 12 months or so and amazing to think that I am now on my third album. It’s been hard work but very productive," explained Alfie from his recently acquired new home in Oxfordshire which he shares with his actress wife Sarah.

"It was really quite an emotional time last year signing my deal and getting to make the record that I had been wanting to do.

"There are so many singers out there, many who are as good as myself who are trying to do the same thing and not getting the chances, so I do feel very fortunate," added the 33 year-old earnestly.

It’s refreshing to encounter such a singer in the opera world who is entirely lacking in the kind of diva attitude displayed by many in the opera genre.

His down- to earth manner can largely be attributed to a well-balanced upbringing in Lancashire. While many youngsters were happy to follow the latest pop chart fads, Alfie stumbled across his brother’s recordings of Puccini’ La Boheme which struck a chord with him.

Years later he developed an interest in singing himself and would often entertain his colleagues at TVR where he trained to become a body mechanic.

"My singing delighted some workmates, but not all of them! I got some advice from colleagues that I should go for it with my music if the chance came- and it eventually did.

"Had it not worked out I think I would still be a mechanic, but there would always have been something telling me that I should be involved with theatre or music in some way."

Like many aspiring singers before him, he sought out the best possible training ground and won a place at the Royal College of Music. From there he went on to the National Opera Studio and Royal Opera House’s young artist’s programme.

He says his studies their proved invaluable with developing his technique and also learning Italian, which remains the prime language of opera.

The death of one of its greats, Pavarotti last month was a sad loss to Alfie who had been a real admirer of the genre’s most prominent stars.

"Pavarotti has been and always will be a huge influence for me. As part of the Three Tenors, Pavarotti started off the whole thing for a popular interest in opera.

"I am very sad that he’s gone. One of my personal highlights was getting to watch him perform from the wings a few years ago, where I was standing just a few feet from him."

Few would dispute the legacy left behind by the big man from Modena, paving the way for a new generation of talented musicians.

Exhibiting an interest in a wide range of sounds beyond the classical world has enriched Alfie’s own range of experiences.

The tenor admits that with his own boys room sporting a drum kit to take out the frustrations of the day on, he might just fancy setting up a sideline blues act.

But for now he’s more than content with his latest backing group, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra no less, who ably abet him on his new album.

As it's title La Passione suggests, this is body of recordings packed with ballads and romantic songs which will be familiar to many. It includes the likes of O Sole Mio, Santa Lucia and Torna a Surriento.

"It was a great experience. I had been wanting to record an album of Neopolitan songs for the last 12 years but remember approaching record companies kept telling me that it wasn’t the right time," he explained of his work that hit the shelves last week and saw him fly out to Italy’s Amalfi coast to record videos for its promotion.

Safely back on British soil, he is keenly awaiting a UK tour that takes in the Canterbury festival. His performance in the city last year as a surprise guest to Hayley Westenra drew much praise.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it, Hayley is such a wonderful girl to work with and hope I get the chance to sing with her again. The cathedral is just incredible, when I was there before I was amplified, but the acoustics are so good there that I won’t need a mike this time around. I’m really looking forward to it."

Rarely has there been so much hype surrounding a classical tenor and it’s clear that he is more than delivering on it with his assured and inspirational vocal abilities.

Alfie Boe plays at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, October 19. Tickets £8-£18. Box office 01227 378188.