Scot looks to build on strong foundations as he returns to opera venue

AN OPERA-singing Scots builder hoping to become the next Andrea Bocelli returns to the festival this month at the venue that gave his career a flying start.

Martin Aelred, 41, from Falkirk, was a novice performer at last year's Festival of Spirituality and Peace in Edinburgh after he answered an advert and offered his services as a singer.

His performances in St John's Church, where the festival is based, have lead to invitations to a New York festival in September and to sing in front of the pyramids in Cairo.

Festival co-director Victor Spence found himself in the surprising role of promoting Aelred as a singer. The builder's career shift has brought a recent string of radio and television appearances ahead of the festival.

"He is an exceptional singer," Mr Spence said. "He has been singing his whole life. He was bought up in an atmosphere of Puccini."

Aelred gave his first public performance at the festival last year. He is back this year, appearing four times in the free evening Sacred Space events and twice in the ticketed World Cafe sessions.

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace is being launches on Sunday night by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill and its line-up includes actor Simon Callow speaking on living with his mother's dementia.

Aelred is not the only Scot bringing opera to the Fringe this year. Opera Bohemia, billed as a new company of young professional Scottish singers, launches a tour of La Boheme at the Fringe.

Glasgow-born tenor Alistair Digges, a recent graduate of the Royal College of Music opera school, plays male lead Rodolfo.