The first black musician to top the British classical music charts is following in the footsteps of one of his all-time heroes.<\/p>\n
Top tenor Noah Stewart will be performing at the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod where opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti launched himself on the world stage.<\/p>\n
Noah, who was born to a single mum in Harlem, New York, arrived\u00a0 on British shores a little over two years ago after been signed up to play the role of Lt B F Pinkerton in Puccini\u2019s Madame Butterfly for Northern Opera.<\/p>\n
Noah was fascinated to learn of Pavarotti\u2019s love affair with the international festival of music and dance in the picturesque town of Llangollen.<\/p>\n
When the chance came emulate the famous Italian tenor, he was determined to seize the opportunity with both hands.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI learnt that Pavarotti actually competed at Llangollen. My career has followed a similar path in many ways as, like Pavarotti, I too entered and won, a singing competition, although I was only 12.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was how I started in music. It gave me the first clue that I might have a career doing what I love most, singing. There have been tough and difficult times getting to where I am today but in truth I suppose I haven\u2019t done too badly for a black kid from Harlem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah is devoted to his single mother, Patricia, who fought hard to put food on the table and raise him and his sister, Belinda, the right way.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cNew York is the greatest city in the world as far as I am concerned and Harlem is such a special neighbourhood. I know Harlem has a reputation, undeserved, but there all the same, as being a tough desperately poor place where black people lived.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what people don\u2019t realise is that Harlem has changed so much. In fact there are now more white people than blacks living in Harlem. It\u2019s actually become quite a fashionable area in which to settle.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut going back a few years Harlem was the centre of a kind of renaissance with many influential black musicians, writers and artists arriving from across America and Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah is fiercely protective of Harlem and its residents and says, growing up the area was, if anything, simply overflowing with love.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cDon\u2019t believe the hype that the district was nothing more than a crime-ridden ghetto. That just isn\u2019t true; sure there are rough areas but you get rough areas anywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never had a great deal of money but mum used to say being poor had nothing to do with how much money you did or didn\u2019t have because you could be rich in love and knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah was drawn to classical music as a child despite the fact that, being from New Orleans, his mum often played jazz, gospel and creole around the Stewart home.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI just found classical music different, it had a sort of richness to it and I always wanted to hear more. Sure, I played basketball, soccer and all the other stuff but mum didn\u2019t want me out hanging around the streets at night so I listened to music instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really believe young people can lead better lives if they are exposed to the arts whether its poetry, literature, music, painting or some other form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time I actually listened to an opera, that was it, I was hooked. I just wanted to sing like that. Of course it was far more fashionable to aspire to be a pop singer but I knew that wasn\u2019t for me. Others were better at that sort of music than me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to sing in Latin, Italian, French and German and I wanted to work on my voice, to set it free. In a way opera is like some sports such as archery or tennis, it\u2019s about perfection and about being precise and accurate.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course there were not many opera singers from Harlem and in a strange way that drew me to the art form, despite people telling me if I wanted to become rich then opera wasn\u2019t the way forward. And they were right about that!<\/p>\n
\u201cBut opera meant I could use the full range of my voice allowing me to explore and use its full colour. After I won the singing competition I enrolled in LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and I used to watch recordings every day before classes started.<\/p>\n
“During that time I sang back-up vocals for various pop acts such as Hootie and the Blowfish and Mariah Carey, all good experience.”<\/p>\n
Winning a scholarship to the Big Apple\u2019s prestigious Juilliard School of Music was the next piece in Noah\u2019s operatic jigsaw.<\/p>\n
After graduating he took a year or so out taking odd jobs and even working as a receptionist at Carnegie Hall before winning a place on the Adler Programme at San Francisco Opera.<\/p>\n
It was in California that he got his big break, singing the role of Macduff in Verdi\u2019s Macbeth to rave reviews despite taking to the stage with just 15 minutes\u2019 notice.<\/p>\n
Since then Noah admits life has been something of a whirlwind as he\u2019s travelled the world starring in operas and performing to ever growing audiences.<\/p>\n
And, last year, his d\u00e9but album, Noah, topped the British Classical Music Charts.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cMy biggest fan is my own mum. She retired not so long ago after 44 years working at the food store check-out. She gave up so much to help me along the musical path I\u2019m on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI owe my career to her and everyone who has helped and inspired me, such as Luciano Pavarotti. And when I appear at Llangollen International Music Eistedffod I\u2019ll be following in his footsteps and that really excites me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah will be performing in concert on Wednesday, July 10, with former Royal harpist Claire Jones and percussionist Evelyn Glennie.<\/p>\n
Among the other stars at the International Eisteddfod this year, are Jools Holland\u2019s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, English soprano Claire Rutter, Kiwi bass Jonathan Lemalu and the choir Only Men Aloud who shot to fame on the hit TV show, Last Choir Standing.<\/p>\n
To book tickets and for more details on this year\u2019s event go to the website at <\/strong>www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> and on Facebook at <\/strong>www.facebook.com\/llangollen<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n