Although York soprano Rebecca Newman’s inaugural concert on her 25-venue Coast To Coast UK tour and the launch of her new single was a little late starting, it was well worth the wait.

From the moment she opened with her version of Il Mio Coure Va (My Heart Will Go On) from Titanic – the single she is due to issue in November – with official accompaniment from the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the sizeable audience settled down to enjoy the rest of the first half of the concert.

Rebecca continued with a number of operatic arias, of which O Mio Babbino Caro from La Boheme was particularly pleasing.

Her final number was an outstanding rendition of Nessun Dorma, the first this reviewer has heard by a female artist. The second half of her homecoming show opened with an unaccompanied version of Danny Boy and then numbers from Carousel, Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables.

Her adaptation of Sting’s Fields of Gold was truly breathtaking, as was her final number, World In Union - so appropriate on the night the Paralympic celebrations came to an end. Rebecca was more than ably supported by the fine voice of local baritone Richard Kay.

By the time she ended her encore, Time To Say Goodbye, it was clear the audience were also sad to say goodbye.

Hopefully, Rebecca's outstanding voice will become much better known in the months to come, not only in the UK, but across the Irish Sea.

- Joe and Mary Stead