World class opera singer Christina Johnston will be performing songs from the Phantom of the Opera with even more emotion than usual tonight as she battles through her own personal heartbreak.

Christina, who has been performing live online shows from a studio at her Felixstowe home, has been told her husband Viacheslav Myachin, known as Slav, has no choice but to leave the UK on Tuesday and return to Russia, after being refused permission to stay longer as his visa has expired. The decision comes despite Slav's strong connections, and even passing an English test last week with flying colours.

Slav has a long standing association with England, the couple actually met at Framlingham College when they were 13, and he and Christina have been battling immigration for months, but have received no help from Suffolk Coastal MP Theresa Coffey or UK officials. Even so, they are continuing to try and find a way of staying together.

Christina is applying for a visa to perform in Russia where she can be with Slav at least for short while, with some of the equipment she uses to sing live here, being flown to his mother's house.

The upheaval has meant Christina has found it difficult to focus on rehearsals for tonight's show but being the consummate professional insist the show will go on.

"It has been difficult to rehearse knowing Slav will have to go back to Russia on Tuesday," Christina told Nub News. "We spoke with an immigration solicitor on Monday and it was a bit of a shock to learn he would have to go back so soon.

"It is heartbreaking, we have been together for 10 years. He has been here in the UK throughout lockdown and we have been together 24/7, so it will be incredibly sad when he has to go on Tuesday."

The couple hope to be reunited as soon as possible, especially as their 10th wedding anniversary is on October 16, but the pair are likely to be separated at Christmas as Christina returns home to be with her mother Gillian.

"She has told me to go," said Christina. "But I need to be back to help care for her."

If having one of the world's finest sopranas was not enough, virtual concert-goers are getting an extra special bonus tonight when one the this year's Voice Kids contestants will be performing, just months after appearing on stage with Paloma Faith.

Paloma turned for James Hodginson who sang an impromptu version of 'Waking in the Air' with the pop star. The former Canterbury Cathedral chorister has now teamed up with Christina to sing a couple of solos in tonight's Facebook Live video, which will also appear on her You Tube channel.

Spending time with James and his parents Chris and Angela this week for rehearsals has helped lift Christina's spirits and he reminded her a lot of the passion and desire she showed at that age when she was growing up with pop star Ed Sheeran in Framlingham.

"He is such a lovely boy, with a lovely, genuine family," said Christina. "I remember being at his age and I could see in him the passion and love of singing that I have always had and without that you won't get anywhere.

"Believe me if you want to be famous you may never get there, but if you want to a be a singer then you need to have that passion and he has that."

James was thrilled to meet and sing with Christina, just days after he got tips from Aled Jones during an audition for the BBC's Chorister of the Year show.

The 13-year-old told nub News: "I was really thrilled when Christina asked if I would like to sing on her live stream.

"She'd heard about my appearance on ITV's Voice Kids and listened to me singing.

"We talked about what I should sing. I decided on The Pie Jesu by Faure as it is a classical piece from my time as a Chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, and Love Changes Everything by Andrew Lloyd Webber, as Christina is singing his music tonight.

"I've been practising hard for it and am really excited that Christina has given me the opportunity. I love to sing and I'm pleased to have the chance to share my voice with more people.

"Christina is a truly amazing singer and performer and I've enjoyed watching he Friday evening live streams. She's lovely and has been very supportive and I hope everyone enjoys my performance tonight.

"I met Aled Jones as I'm involved in BBC's Young Chorister of the year. He listened to the two pieces I've chosen to sing and gave me some help and coaching.

"I don't know what this will lead to but it's great experience and an opportunity to meet Aled who was a Chorister and became a professional singer which is what I want to be."

Christina, who has performed across the world, and personally asked to sing for the Chinese and Czech Republic presidents at different times and sang on stage with a number of orchestras and other superstars.

Among the concerts performed by Christina from her Felixstowe studio since March classics from Evita, Moulin Rouge, The Greatest Showman, and tonight's Phantom of the Opera, which can be watched on Christina's official Facebook page, as well as on her YouTube channel.