WHAT could be more exciting? Partners in life and on the stage, Sarah Helsby-Hughes and Nicholas Sales, are singing together in the lead roles of Slaithwaite Philharmonic and Focus Opera’s production of Tosca.

Although they have sung the roles before, next weekend’s performance of Puccini’s much loved opera at Huddersfield Town Hall, is the first time they have appeared together.

Sarah said: “Working with your partner heightens the romance between you and is just wonderful.” Though Nick, with a twinkle in his eye, pointed out that the “jealousy and deceit” of Tosca are left firmly in the rehearsal room.

Nick began his career as a surveyor singing with amateur groups until he got his lucky break in 2001 and turned professional. Sarah always wanted to be an actress and came up through the more conventional route of the Birmingham Conservatoire. They first met on a tour of Japan but it was Facebook three years ago that brought them together.

These two professional singers have been in rehearsal for what promises to be another exciting and innovative staged opera performance from Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Ellin.

Sarah praised the orchestra’s professional sound and the dedication of its musicians.

“The sheer joy of their sound makes you want to perform on another level.”

Tosca is being performed at the town hall on October 13 and follows the orchestra’s successful staging last season of Puccini’s classic opera, La Boheme.

It continues the orchestra’s commitment to involve as many people as possible in the joys of music making and gets another new season off to an exciting start.

Once again the performance is being driven by the orchestra’s music director Ben Ellin, working with director Keith Cheetham.

This is the third project that the two have worked on with Slaithwaite Philharmonic and they continue to come up with ambitious and imaginative projects to which the orchestra continues to respond.

Two years ago, the orchestra rounded off its season with a programme of music by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky.

A video, made by Keith, was projected live above the orchestra during its performance of Stravinsky’s Petrushka.

Keith, a top documentary maker, an award-winning producer and director in film and television, worked with the local community to make the film.

Not surprisingly, he was swiftly invited back to work on last year’s ground-breaking performance of La Bohème.

This year, he has transposed Tosca to 1943. It is no dusty period version but an updated, dark tale set against Puccini’s exhilarating score.

“A tale of love, envy, deception and political corruption, Puccini’s timeless classic has as many modern day relevances as it does wonderful musical moments,” said Ben.

Puccini wrote the opera after seeing Victorien Sardou’s play written for the actress Sarah Bernhardt.

“Puccini really fought to write this piece himself,” said Ben.

“Even Verdi was interested and Puccini had to tirelessly commit himself to the idea of adapting the story into an opera and to make sure he was the person who would do it.

“I think it is an understatement to say that the score is one of the most gripping and charged of all operatic scores.

“This production is a real opportunity for the area. It will also unite a huge cross section of people.

“We will have the orchestra, singers from the Bury Choral Society as well as a fantastic cast of professional lead singers, but we are also joined beforehand by set builders, painters and technical teams all gearing towards one main point of performance, ” said Ben.

Fresh from their inaugural operatic festival in Northampton, Ben and Keith have been rehearsing in London with the cast before bringing them together with orchestra and chorus in Slaithwaite ahead of that town hall performance.

“The set is almost complete, everyone is rehearsing independently and the tickets are on sale,” said Ben.

“I would urge opera lovers and newcomers to join us. It will be great.”

The performance is on September 13 at 7.15pm. There is a pre concert talk for ticket holders at 6.15pm).

Tickets are available from the Library and all Kirklees box offices (tel: 223200) £13 – £18 (concessions from £10).

As usual at SPO concerts children accompanied by adults are admitted free to the town hall gallery and area.