BY day Rebecca Knight is a down-to-earth artist. By night she is an Operababe.

Life has changed dramatically for the soprano, who until relatively recently was still busking on the streets of London. But not one to shy away from change, Knight is clearly enjoying every minute.

"We love it," she said.

Knight and fellow former busker, the mezzo soprano Karen England, have taken the world by storm with their unique and very visual brand of crossover classical.

Their second album, Renaissance, was released last year to critical acclaim and their current tour, which brings them to Hereford's Courtyard tomorrow night, is going down a storm.

"It's much more personal," said Knight.

"We talk to the audience. It's actually quite unique and different because it's very interactive. I really enjoy that about it plus we don't use an amplifier. It's much more organic."

After they were spotted busking back in 2001, the duo, who met while singing with a touring opera company, were propelled into the limelight.

There rendition of Un Bel Di Vedremo (One Fine Day We Shall See from Puccini's Madame Butterfly) was used by ITV as the title music for their World Cup 2002 coverage, the FA Cup final and at the UEFA Champions League final. Their lives would never be the same again.

After releasing their debut album, Beyond Imagination, the girls fell out with record company Sony/BMG, apparently because they had asked them to concentrate on studio work rather than performing live.

Knight clearly takes these twists and turns with a pinch of salt.

"We're just going with the flow at the moment," she said. "Everything changes. We're going to South Africa later in the year. Things just happen all the time. Who knows what's going to happen in the future."

The Operababes are performing at the Courtyard for one night only.

For tickets call the box office on 0870 1122330 or visit www.courtyard. org.uk.