Opera singer Sean Ruane has wowed audiences in Italy and made recordings at Abbey Road, the studio made famous by the Beatles... so why does he get nervous before a concert in Bacup? PAULINE HAWKINS finds out.

THE thought of singing in front of an east Lancashire audience fills Sean Ruane with more dread than when he performed at the Puccini Festival in Italy last year.

Sean grew up on the tough Fairview council estate in Bacup, the youngest of eight children born to Irish parents, but has followed his dream to become a top operatic tenor who has just recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios in London.

Old friends from Bacup will be able to catch up with his news when he performs in the town later this month to raise money for the 2nd Rossendale Scout group's trip to German twin town Bocholt.

Sean was educated at St Mary's RC Primary School, Bacup, and St Theodore's RC High School, Burnley, and was always interested in music as a child. During his teens he sang with local pop and rock bands and took part in amateur dramatic shows in Burnley, Bacup and the Rossendale Valley.

Sean said: "It wasn't until my 20s that I decided to take my voice more seriously. I did enjoy my roles in musical theatre and had a desire to pursue this.

"When I was a lifeguard at Whitworth swimming pool in Bacup in my mid-20s I started singing lessons with Veronica Cross, a teacher in Middleton, who said I could pursue an operatic career.

"After 12 months I auditioned for the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. I was accepted and took a four-year degree course in music. I am now in the second year of post-graduate studies at the same college which involves all manner of music, but mainly opera." Last summer Sean performed live at the Puccini festival at Torre Del Lago, Italy, where the composer ended his days, and also did a number of concerts in Celle Dei Puccini, where the composer was born.

Sean said: "It was a thrill but it was strange singing Italian opera to the Italians, especially being of Irish heritage and coming from Bacup."

He need not have worried, however. The Italians loved him.

"They asked me to come back. So in February this year I performed opera at La Spezia, in the region of Ligure, taking the role of Alfredo in La Traviata," he said.

The only non-Italian, Sean found the first day of rehearsals somewhat daunting even though he was fluent in Italian.

"I spend time getting to grips with the nuances of the music and the character before I go out there," he said.

The experience he has gained performing in front of Italian opera aficionados and previous charity events will no doubt stand him in good stead for his performance later this month at Bacup Leisure Hall.

He was invited to sing in his home town by fund-raiser Jimmy Eaton, who was aware of Sean's success and had heard his voice at another charity concert. Sean had been asked in October last year to take part in a charity fashion show at Old Trafford by Jan Shutt, of Sunday Best in Bank Street, Rawtenstall.

Jan said: "He looks fantastic, and this appearance helped him to be spotted by others. He is a special individual and has given himself to charity quite a lot."

Sean's appearance in Manchester led to him singing at another charity event at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, where he was seen by Mr Eaton and asked to sing at the leisure hall.

Sean said: "Jimmy has known me since I was a child. Bacup is a small town and it will be more frightening than performing in front of the Italians." As he is one of a number of performers on the bill, he fears he has been "thrust upon" his audience. "I'm looking forward to it with a bit of trepidation. But I hope I will bring the house down," Sean said.

Mr Eaton, of Hoghton Avenue, Bacup, said: "Sean went down well at the Dunkenhalgh. We lived on the same estate and I grew up with his brothers. I only heard him sing once, many years ago, but he has come on now and I think he is going to make the big time.

"It is a chance to get him here -- we may not get another chance." Mr Eaton hopes a four-figure sum will be raised at the charity evening next Saturday, March 31. Tickets cost £7.50 and are available from Mr Eaton on 01706 878153, from the leisure hall, the tourist information office at Rawtenstall and from a number of shops in Bacup.

Also on the bill will be top Manchester disc jockey Keith Fayne and Sould As Seen, a nine-piece soul band who performed at Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's testimonial and were also at the Dunkenhalgh when Sean sang there.

Money from the event will send scouts from the 2nd Rossendale group to Germany where they will be playing their musical instruments at a couple of venues during their stay.

Next month Sean will be taking to the road with Leeds-based company Opera North on a tour of the country in which he will be the understudy to the role of Sergei in Paradise Moscow by Shostakovich.

And last week he travelled to the Abbey Road Studios in London to record an operatic album with other leading performers.

Sean wanted to thank the Peter Moores Foundation, which sponsors young singers, and two anonymous companies in Bacup for their support.

Asked for his advice to other would-be singers, Sean said: "You have to have a strong belief in your own ability. Never let an opportunity go by."