ONE of the North-East's favourite sons attracted a full house when he made a stage appearance at Durham's Gala Theatre.

Every seat was taken for a concert by the internationally-renowned baritone Sir Thomas Allen.

Sir Thomas, born in Seaham, east Durham, whose talent has taken him to the world's great opera houses, was given a rapturous reception by his native audience.

The sell-out concert also featured one of the world's leading vocal accompanists, pianist Graham Johnson.

The performance included newly-commissioned and complex works by Julian Phillips entitled Fame, The Death of Beauty, Memory and The Shepherd's Tree.

Sir Thomas also sang Stanford's O Mistress Mine, Haydn's She Never Told Her Love, Finzi's Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun and Sullivan's Orpheus With His Lute.