Banned from the UK classical charts, because her sound was “not classical enough” may have proved to be the end of the road for mezzo-soprano singer Annalise Whittlesea. Yet for this Finchley-based artist, and her friends Ceri Ann Gregory and Amelia Whiteman, the journey home from their last classical gig together proved to be “a golden moment”.

“We were all emotionally mixed up and on a post-gig high,” Annalise explains. Their sound, “which had always been about making classical music accessible”, took a different direction once the radio was switched on.

“Intuitively we starting harmonising to Rainbow’s song Since You’ve Been Gone – and that’s when it hit us. We just knew that it would work,” states Annalise. “It was obvious that our three-part harmonies would hold these rock songs up; obviously, with an absolutely massive orchestral accompaniment.”

The 34-year-old continues: “Sure they are rock songs sung by male voices but they are all sung with passion and have that theatrical edge, so the two styles are not that dissimilar.”

The “masterplan” of blending the two genres of rock and classical proved to be a hit with Lady GaGa and Amy Winehouse’s record label, Universal Music, who last April instantly signed the artists, known as Elysium III – once they’d heard their demo of Bad Company’s Feel Like Making Love.

The trio of friends then spent the best part of last summer “agonising” over the play list and recording for their soon-to-be-released debut album, Rock Diva.

“It was a big list of ‘70s, ‘80s and contemporary rock,” enthuses Annalise, “But in the end we chose 11 songs that worked with our voices and that our brilliant producer, Ben Roberts, could arrange orchestrally.”

The results, have been dubbed “Glee for adults”; but these alumni of the Royal College Of Music and the Royal Academy of Music are sure that this road is the right direction for their classically-trained voices. “It’s such a feel-good album,” adds Annalise.

And a blessing for Elysium III’s success has been sent by legendary rock songwriter, Russ Ballad, who not only penned Since You’ve Been Gone and the much covered anthem, God Gave Rock'n'Roll To You. The Waltham Cross-based writer says: “It’s always great to hear a song reborn. I wish them the best of luck.”

Elysium III album Rock Diva is out Monday, March 21, on Universal Music. Pre-order your copy from www.ElysiumIII.com