Opera legend Lesley Garrett, a former principal soprano at the English National Opera, has amassed three pensions that she intends to keep untouched until she retires from performing. At 71, Garrett continues to perform and has stated a commitment to financial independence.
Garrett, who has 17 solo albums and several DVD specials to her name, has a career that spans classical opera productions, West End shows, and even appearances at FA Cup finals. She has spoken about her upbringing, where her father’s tendency to overspend and her mother’s stress about finances influenced her own approach to money. This has led her to dislike debt and prefer spending only what she has.
She recalled a particularly lucrative moment early in her career, earning £10,000 plus royalties for a single high note sung in a cinema advertisement for Taittinger Champagne approximately 40 years ago. The most financially successful period of her career, she noted, was in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This era was marked by her BBC2 television series, which explored opera with popular music artists and achieved significant viewership, leading to profitable album tours.
Garrett's financial decisions have also included significant purchases for enjoyment, such as a £9,000 yellow Smart car bought for her husband, Dr. Peter Christian, a retired GP. She credits her husband as being the more financially astute partner in their marriage, managing their investments.
Regarding property, Garrett has consistently invested in real estate, viewing it as both an emotional and financial endeavor. Her portfolio includes a six-bedroom house in north London, a farmhouse in France, and two cottages in Yorkshire, one of which is rented out. She plans to use her assets to ensure she can afford care in her later years, aiming to avoid being a burden to anyone.
Garrett has also expressed strong views on the arts budget, advocating for a significant increase. She believes that successive governments have underestimated the arts' inspirational power and that a lack of support has eroded the UK's cultural reputation, leading to high ticket prices that deter potential audiences.