Based on Daniel Mason’s debut novel of the same name, it is

the story of a man who finds a

piano-tuning job in a remote corner of Burma turns into a journey of self-discovery.

Giles told me: “It’s a demanding role both vocally and dramatically and I’m hardly off the stage the whole evening – but it’s very

exciting to create a new part.

“It’s a piece with the intensity of a tragedy by Shakespeare, like Hamlet or Lear.”

Having played piano since

childhood, Giles found it easy to get into the spirit of the opera – “but I have to take the instrument to pieces at one point”.

Giles studied at the Royal College of Music with the eminent Wagnerian singer Norman Bailey, and made his debut on the opera stage as Puck in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

His roles have ranged from Gilbert and Sullivan to Bernstein’s Candide, although his favourite is Figaro in Rossini’s The Barber Of Seville, which he has sung in

several different productions.

Earlier this year he toured America with the Carl Rosa

company.

Scored for eight singers and a chamber orchestra, The Piano Tuner has a libretto by Amanda Holden.

Music Theatre Wales visited Oxford last year with Gwyneth and the Green Knight.

Founded in 1988, its previous productions include Osborne’s

The Electrification of the Soviet Union.

The one-off performance of The Piano Tuner is tonight at 7.30pm. There will be a free pre-show talk with members of the creative team at 6.30pm. Tickets are priced £14-£29. For bookings call the box office on 01865 305305.