AN OPERA singer is taking time out from his hectic schedule to perform traditional folk songs in his native North-East.

Graeme Danby, of Consett, principal bass with English National Opera, will be travelling hundreds of miles between the North and South.

In the space of a few days, he performs The Marriage of Figaro in Glyndebourne, before performing twice in one day in the region - Abide With Me, at Durham County Cricket Club, and an Evening of North East Music, in South Shields - both on Sunday.

"I don't mind travelling," he said. "It's part of the job. And I like to get back to the North-East as much as possible. It makes a change from singing in Italian to have some fun with songs in our own dialect. Although, I'll have to make sure I know which day it is, or the Glyndebourne audiences might get a shock."

If he forgets where he is, the famous verse by his character Antonio in Figaro 'Dal balcone che guarda in giardino,' could end up very different.

In Geordie dialect it would be: "From the winder that looks inte wor back yard/I see loads o' stuff chucked neet and noon/And this morn', te mek matters worse/I seen a bloke, bonny lad, hoy'd right doon."

Mr Danby's yo-yo schedule continues with rehearsals in Covent Garden the next day, before returning to Tyneside for the Colebrook Audi NSPCC Proms at the Silverlink, Wallsend. After two days back with the English National Opera, he again travels north for An Evening of North East Music in Hexham.

Tickets are still available for the two concerts of North East music: on Sunday at the Customs House, South Shields, telephone (0191) 454 1234 and next Friday at the Queens Hall, Hexham, telephone (01434) 652 477.

Each show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £10.