MODEST, friendly and down-to-earth, it is easy to forget Ian Storey is one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world. For as passionate as Ian is about opera and classical music, his eyes are equally bright when discussing his other interests, which range from archery and photography to walking his beloved dog, Boss.

This is perhaps because he did not attend a renowned music school. Nor did he have private singing lessons from an early age. In fact, it was not until he reached his late twenties that Ian truly discovered his operatic potential – a discovery that set him on a path he would never have dreamed possible.

It’s now 21 years since Ian first took to the stage in a production of the Rape of Lucretia and has gone on to enjoy a glittering career.

His first performance as Wagner’s Tristan, at La Scala Opera House, in Milan, in 2007, was broadcast live on TV throughout Europe to an estimated ten million viewers, as well as being shown in cinemas throughout the world and released on Virgin Classics.

It was a performance that cemented his place as one of opera’s greatest talents and he has gone on to play the part 49 times. Yet, no matter how far afield his musical journey takes him, Ian always finds time to return to the North-East. After all, County Durham is where his story starts.

Born and bred in Chilton, Ian attended Ferryhill Grammar School and later gained a degree in furniture design at Loughborough University.

Growing up, he was interested in music, but his main passion was sport. However, when he moved to New Zealand to take up a teaching post, a basketball injury left him in need of new hobbies.

“The doctor told me I couldn’t play any sport for at least two years, so I started looking around for other things to do,” he says.

“I already played the piano, had an interest in classical music and felt I could hold a tune so I thought I would give singing a go.”

Ian joined the Hamilton Civic Choir where his natural talent was soon recognised. It was not long before he was encouraged to audition for opera and the rest, as they say, is history.

IAN, who is currently coached by La Scala’s James Vaughan, has too many credits to list in one article, which is hardly surprising for someone whose versatility allows him to perform a variety of repertoires in six languages. Florestan in Fidelio, the title role in Otello, Samson in Samson and Dalila and, his personal favourite, Tristan in Tristan und Isolde are just some of the roles he has tackled in opera houses the world over.

He has also taken part in many prestigious concerts, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in Ghana to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence, Verdi’s Requiem in Durham Cathedral, the Wels Wagner Festival in Austria and Act III Turandot for the 200th anniversary of Ricordi at La Scala. Yet, he is humble about his achievements. “I always remember my grandmother saying to me ‘choose not to sail on winds that have passed’,” he says. “I never look back on past triumphs as they don’t mean anything. What I do now and in the future is what is important.”

Ian’s busy schedule means he is out of the country for up to ten months a year.

Add to this the regular masterclasses he teaches at the Royal Scottish Academy, and his role as an ambassador for Herefordshire, where he now lives with his wife and son, and it is perhaps understandable that he has decided to take a few months off this summer.

Opera fans need not worry, however.

Bookings for autumn are flooding in, with future engagements including Tristan and Isolde in Venice and Washington DC and Gotterdammerung at La Scala, Berlin Straatsoper and the BBC Proms. He is also preparing to record his first solo album.

WHEN asked what advice he would give aspiring singers Ian says: “I would not advise anyone to go to music college until they are at least 21.

“Get some life experience first and perhaps do another degree so you have other qualifications to fall back on.

“This country is obsessed with celebrity and you hear reports of diva behaviour,” he continues.

“Avoid all that. Money and fame has never been a motivation for me – I just love what I do.”