Lorelei Reddin talks to tenor David Habbin, the south coast star of opera phenomenon Amici Forever

How did you start out in the music business David? "I was in a rock 'n' roll band called The Flaming Softies in Bournemouth. We had quite a good following and toured the country. It was quite a big part of my life for a long time. That came to an end and I went to study at theatre school in London. I did a few years of music theatre and acting, but all the way through that I was an operatic singing teacher in Bournemouth and I wanted to give the opera thing a good go."

And that's when Amici Forever happened? "Yes. I went to the West End on tour and back to college in Manchester. Then Amici was formed between three and a half and four years ago. It was the first kind of group to think of itself as an opera band. It was different and it was the first time someone had done anything like this.

What do you think is so unique about Amici Forever? "It opened us up to the harmonies you can create with guys and girls and we're still fairly unique in that respect. There's no one else similar. We've got quite a contemporary feel, we're not formalised."

What can people expect from your show? "There's more in the way of pop than you'd expect. There's a light section, singing through the PA, machines, an unplugged section, songs with the piano and a chat with the audience. We have a real mixture of songs from classical ones adapted to fit our needs to classic pop songs like Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Power of Love."

What's the best thing about being in a band? "We like our second album and it's been released around the world. But the best thing is the places we've been like Australia, New Zealand, the US and Japan. We get to travel quite a bit.

But you're glad to be home for the moment? "Yes. We always seem to be playing abroad, so it's great to be back home. I'm from Ringwood of course so I'm especially looking forward to the Bournemouth gig. Family and friends all come down in coachloads!"

Are there any ambitions you're yet to fulfil? "To continue with Amici as long as possible. I'd like to do more acting outside the world of musical theatre, start acting on stage or TV, that would be nice."

What's the best gig you've ever played? "It was in Barbados, we had a week there. We were playing at the home of Jack and Wendy Kidd (the parents of British catwalk queen Jodie). They have a festival over there. That was fantastic."

Where's your favourite place? "We go to a little town in Austria - that's so stunning. We go to such contrasting places like New Zealand, we get to tour there a lot and it's a beautiful country."

And finally, your favourite song to perform? The Power of Love is my favourite at the moment. It's new and fresh for us and it's a really good example of how to blend classical music with a pop background."

Amici Forever play The Anvil in Basingstoke on Wednesday and Bournemouth International Centre on May 28.