ANGLESEY born international tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones will sing leading roles in two operas in the Welsh National Opera’s spring season at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru next week.

He will be taking the part of Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca on Wednesday April 18 and the following Friday, then as Don Alvaro in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino on Saturday.

The Welsh National Opera spring season at Venue Cymru also includes a performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni on Tuesday April 17 and the following Thursday.

Gwyn, who originally comes from Llanbedrgoch, said: “I’m looking forward to coming to Llandudno because this my home, it is where I am from, and keeping contact with my roots and with people I’ve not seen for a while is important. It is also rewarding to make a contribution to the cultural scene in North Wales.”

Gwyn, who went to Llanbedrgoch primary school and then Ysgol Gyfun in Llangefni, added: “I think I was fortunate enough to have teachers who inspired me. There was a vibrant music life at the school, but I can’t claim my development was solely to the school, but also to the education I had attending chapel and eisteddfods and concerts. They were all very important elements in my development.

He subsequently trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

He added: “I have sung all over the world, at the New York Met, San Francisco Opera, La Scala in Milan and Covent Garden and at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Japan. As an opera singer you have go where the opportunities are.

“But I have always loved working at home. That is the place that made me what I have become you are and keeping that understanding is crucial. I was inspired and hope to inspire others and young people.

Gwyn made his professional debut in 1995 with WNO as Ismaele in Verdi’s Nabucco and represented Wales two years later at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.

He added: “I love singing the music of Verdi and Puccini, which I what I will be singing in Llandudno. I only do what I like doing, and that is how people get the best out of me and I get the best out of me.”