Mezzo-soprano Joanne Edworthy sings on her home ground for the first time when she steps on the stage of the Pavilion Theatre this evening.

Joanne is singing the role of Cherubino, the testosterone-fuelled young boy with an eye for anything in a skirt in Mozart's sparkling comedy The Marriage Of Figaro.

It's the first time she has sung for a home crowd and is expecting the audience to be packed with friends and family.

She said: "I'm used to my family coming to hear me sing but I think it might be a little daunting if too many of my friends turn up.

"I have no problem with audiences generally but friends in the audience expect a certain standard and it adds just a little more pressure.

"But I don't suffer much from nerves and anyway, as Cherubino, I can hide in my male costume."

Joanne, 31, always knew she wanted to be a singer, although she also studied piano at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where she graduated.

She said: "I had started playing the piano when I was very young - about four, I think. But the more I studied singing, the more I wanted a singing career and opera is where you get to sing and act."

She left Manchester with an honours degree and was immediately offered a job at Glyndebourne as a member of the chorus and understudy.

She said: "I understudied roles in Rossini's Le Comte Ory, although I never did take on the role. The star was in disgustingly good health all through the run.

"But, as understudy, I received a great deal of help from the opera house. I had lots of coaching in stagecraft, make-up - even stunt fighting.

"And, of course, there was a great deal of singing practice. Glyndebourne is marvellous for young singers. Some singers call Glyndebourne "Glynditz".

"You are there for a lengthy period and rehearsals are intensive. But it works very well and you become part of a family who all help each other. lt was great fun and a marvellous chance to learn."

That intensive learning led to her operatic debut as Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel And Gretel and as Siebel in Faust, for Welsh National Opera, later televised for Channel 4.

She has also sung the title roles in Handel's Xerses and Anadigi, and the role of Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro She says: "Now here I am in Figaro again. This production is set in the Thirties and when the Count sends me off to be a soldier, I turn up as a soldier of the First World War period.

"There is something about Mozart's music that makes it a delight to sing. I think it is the humanity of it. Mozart always wrote music for real people. All his characters are real.

Tickets: 01903 206206.