SOME of the best young vocal talents from across North-East will perform stories of love and romance through song and poetry.

The Miranda Wright Singers present Tell Me the Truth About Love at Witham Hall, in Barnard Castle, at 7.30pm, on Friday, August 1 and Tuesday, August 5.

The singers have been developed by Mrs Wright, who is a masterclass leader from Samling Academy and who has a busy practice in Durham teaching undergraduates and other singers from across the region.

Mrs Wright said: “Many of the young singers have appeared with The Durham Singers and in operas at The Sage Gateshead, including Britten’s Albert Herring - the last opera I directed for the Samling Academy.

“We have a wealth of talent in the show.”

They include Clare Tunney, of Middlesbrough, who has taken up a full scholarship with the Royal Academy of Music in London and mezzo-soprano Charlotte Heslop, of Spennymoor, who is about to take up a full scholarship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Sarah Ryan, of Gateshead, is auditioning for music college next Autumn.

Tenor David Powton, of Newcastle, is about to take up a full scholarship at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, while Tom Rowarth, of Hexham, is studying sports science at Durham University, and is keen to follow a singing career.

The youngest performer is Emily Bullock, 15, of Wynyard, who has performed in three youth operas directed by Mrs Wright.

The programme includes works by Henry Purcell, Gerald Finzi, Benjamin Britten, Robert Schumann, Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss and Edvard Grieg.

Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions) from 01833 631107.

There will also be a performance at the Saltburn Community Hall in Saltburn at 7.30pm on Sunday, August 3. Tickets are £8 and £6. Box office on 01287 624997.