YORK Opera open the new season at the spring-cleaned York Theatre Royal by heading East for Puccini's Turandot, the opera that gave the 1990 World Cup Nessun Dorma.

Set in imperial Peking, Turandot tells the story of the enigmas posed by the cold and beautiful princess to all suitors for her hand. Can Prince Calaf solve the riddles and melt Turandot's heart of ice?

Leading roles in Clive Marshall's production go to Patricia Casement, playing Turandot for the second time; Martin Neil Dunn, making his York Opera debut as Calaf, and Julia Ledger, who joined the society in 1992, as the tragic, saintly Liu.

For Julia, of Heworth, in York, life could not be busier and that is by choice. Last summer this 38-year-old mother of three - daughters Kate, Hannah and Jessica are 15, 13 and 11 respectively - completed her degree in music at the University of York.

"I've been teaching privately for around 15 years. My children are getting older; you always need income; and so I decided to go back into the education system! It was terrifying at first: I was the only mature student in my year... but I loved it!"

Indeed she did. Julia was a member of the University Choir, University Chamber Choir and the New Music Group, while retaining her involvement with York Opera, not least playing Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes in 1998.

Julia, who originally trained in art before switching to music, has been freelance-teaching singing and piano from home since leaving university, as well as finding time to be an accompanist for concerts and for music students' exam pieces.

She so enjoys teaching that come September, she starts a one-year course for a post-graduate certificate of education in music and drama, with the intention of teaching 11 to 18 year olds full-time.

"I really like teenagers, and I think I must love the challenge of doing all these different things," she says. "Above all, I love singing: it's a passion for me, I like to sing all the time, and so that's why I always find time to do shows with York Opera."

York Opera, Turandot, York Theatre Royal, July 11, 12, 14 and 15 at 7.15pm. Sung in English, with full orchestra. Box office: 01904 623568.

PICTURE: Julia Ledger plays Liu in York Opera's Turandot