A legendary artist who has received Ivor Novello, Grammy and BASCAP awards, along with a flotilla of gold and platinum records, really needs very little introduction.
As well as being part of the bands Visage, Thin Lizzy and Ultravox, this musical genius even co-wrote Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas'?
How will he cope going from hard Rock 'n' Roll to operatic heart and soul?
Midge Ure may have had a successful music career spanning over three decades, but admits that he is finding learning to sing opera particularly difficult.
“It’s a bit like playing a game with someone and they keep changing the rules on you,” he muses. “So just when you think you’ve got what they’re talking about you realise that your body will not do it. So I’m kind of struggling right now!”
The singer admits that whilst the first live show is looming, he is still at the stage where he is having doubts about singing in Italian.
“I’m starting to get to the point where I’m doing the artistic crumble, I’m folding inside” he reveals.
“Maybe I have no capacity to learn the language. I walk about spouting Italian - the problem is I’ve got the phrases but I just haven’t necessarily got them in the right order,” he worries.
Midge has been impressed by Rolando and Katherine, and says he gets a buzz when he listens to Rolando sing.
“He’s singing to me which most opera fans would cut off their right hand to have. That’s a magical moment, that’s fantastic,” he glees. “I find him very gracious and they have the patience of saints when it comes to working with complete amateurs like me.”
Midge admits that he still gets nervous when performing and has a contingency plan if he forgets the words on Popstar to Operastar.
He divulges his secret. “You have to know this stuff and that is absolutely petrifying to me - I just get it wrong and make noises that sound Italian just to get through the song, and the more I think about it the more I’m liable to do it!”