By Kelly Shephard BBC World Service

UK opera star Sir Thomas Allen is renowned not just for his performances, but also for his views as a controversial cultural critic.

Having recently criticised "crossover" artists - such as the Mediaeval Baebes - for threatening the integrity of the profession, Sir Thomas has told the BBC of his belief in the importance of being a broad-minded artist.

"Singers are very blinkered in their view of life, they tend to think of themselves as wholly self-sufficient," he told BBC World Service's Music Review programme.

"I think we become better performing artists the more informed we are," he added.

Virtuous

Believing that an artist "can't stand still", the international performer told the programme how the "the greatest quality that an artist can have is a natural curiosity".

Additionally he told of another virtue that he believes has stood him in good stead.

"Humility may sound like a strange quality in someone who stands up in front of thousands of people," he explained, "but it allows a respect for what one does and means that you never take it for granted."

Sir Thomas hit the headlines recently with his outspoken views regarding record companies use of sex to sell CDs.

"Crossover acts" like Bond angered Sir Thomas

Denouncing classical "crossover" artists such as the Bond string quartet, the singer expressed his fears that the public were being misled in their belief that they were the best that classical music had to offer.

"I think we run a great risk these days of loosing the true integrity of art of any kind," he explained.

"If you have two female cellists and they are from two ends of the beauty spectrum, no matter what the talent you are going to go for the beautiful one."

"My fear is that we are introducing a new generation by means of their eyes not their ears."

Repertoire

Sir Thomas Allen has played to packed auditoriums around the world.

Having earned a reputation as a champion of the Victorian parlour repertoire, CD releases such as Songs My Father Taught Me have also demonstrated the baritone's wide range.

Currently preparing for next year's production of Sweeney Todd in Covent Garden, he explained how he fulfils his own artistic needs by painting.

Inspired by his north of England roots, Sir Thomas said he was "intrigued" by industrial, mining scenes.

"You have to train the hand and the eye," he said. "I do it (paint) because I think we are generally too narrow as performing artists."