AN OTLEY student has landed a major part in Opera North’s forthcoming production of Tosca.

Thirteen year old Matilda Hazell, who studies at Prince Henry’s Grammar School, will share the show’s Shepherd Boy solo with Roundhay School pupil Ben Hayes.

The pair will perform the Lo de’sospiri piece in the production - which opens at Leeds Grand Theatre on Sunday, September 16 and runs, over seven dates, until Saturday, October 13 - on different nights.

They will be singing the solo in Italian.

The teenagers are members of Opera North Young Voices which is where they were invited to audition.

The ensemble gives children aged between 12 and 15 the chance to meet to perfect their vocal technique and musicianship while developing drama and stagecraft skills.

Those should prove useful for Matilda and Ben when they appear as the altar girl and boy, lighting votive candles while soprano Giselle Allen performs the aria Vissi d’arte.

Matilda, who will perform her first solo on Wednesday, October 3, said: “Although the rehearsals can be quite long I never get bored.

“I said to mum after one of then that I didn’t want to go back to school - I just want to perform in opera productions all the time!”

After Leeds, the production will go to Newcastle Theatre Royal, Hull New Theatre, Nottingham Theatre Royal, and The Lowry at Salford Quays.

To find out more about Opera North Young Voices visit https://www.operanorth.co.uk/participate/ .