22nd March 2005 - The last two months have proved a busy time for Paul Carey Jones. His well-received recital at Barrandov Opera in Suffolk was followed by a highly-acclaimed run as Doctor Malatesta in Bel Canto Opera's production of Don Pasquale at the Playhouse Theatre in Cheltenham - click here for the latest reviews; pictures by Roger Phillips from the show are shown below.

Paul then went on to Glasgow and Edinburgh, where he sang the roles of Schmidt and Maestro di Casa in Scottish Opera's concert performance of Giordano's Andrea Chenier, with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong, and alongside international singers such as Franco Farina, Claire Rutter and Anthony Michaels-Moore, as well as fellow Welsh stars Aled Hall and Leah-Marian Jones (making a total of three Towyn Roberts Scholarship winners in the cast).

Afterwards, Paul returned home to sing at a charity concert to mark the retirement of Mrs Mair Robins, headteacher of his old primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, where he was joined by other well-known former pupils including actor Matthew Rhys and newsreader Eleri Morgan. Another former pupil and old friend of PCJ, actor Ioan Gruffudd, was unable to attend owing to filming commitments, but sent a message paying tribute to grounding provided by dedicated teachers in Wales such as Mrs Robins.

Paul returns to Scotland nest week to cover the role of the Father in Hansel and Gretel for Scottish Opera on Tour. Further appearances throughout 2005 and into 2006 are currently being finalized - watch this space for further details as soon as they emerge.