I WOULDN'T know a mezzo soprano if I fell over one and my musical talents don't even extend to the triangle.

But I do know that it was not necessary to be an opera buff, a musical virtuoso or a silver tonsilled tunester to appreciate the experience that was Verdi's Aida as performed at Blackburn's King George's Hall last night.

Perhaps lack of knowledge was in fact an advantage.

No need to examine and dissect each and every note, whether sung or played, just sit back and enjoy the experience.

And what an experience as the members of the Chisinau National Opera performed this passionate tale of love and war in the Middle-East which, almost inevitably, ended in tragedy.

Teimuraz Gugushvili, who played the hero, had the strange ability to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as he belted it out and Natalia Margarit, the heroine, sent shivers down the spine.

I'm not sure the subtitles displayed high above the stage were entirely necessary --it wasn't what they were singing but the way they were singing it that was important -- but I could have closed my eyes and thought of Egypt and still come away a happy man.

AIDA

King George's Hall, Blackburn