Probably you've never thought of Preston as a nursery of operatic life. You'll have to think again, mainly as a result of the activities of Chris Gill including the creation of Heritage Opera in 2006 - since when they have performed and toured no fewer than three major works (Così, Onegin and Bohème, since you ask).

Gill is artistic director, translator, and - as I found when the company brought The Marriage of Figaro south for the first time, to St Mary Magdalene Woodstock - page-turner to accompanist Paul Greenhalgh while simultaneously working the surtitles' discreetly placed at the side. One way and another he seemed the obvious heir to Figaro, the multitasking factotum of Seville.

The company thrives on this punishing schedule - young enough to bring sparkle and gaiety to the pacy action, mature enough to give depth to the dilemmas of the characters. They are all professional singers and/or music teachers, many with a common link in the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, whose Royal Exchange Theatre, I noticed, provided the lush 19th-century costumes.

The church affords only a restricted acting space with few of the hiding places required; instead, there were flexible voices, neat groupings, and nine singing parts with not a weak link between them. My neighbour even swore he'd made sense of the Marcellina sub-plot!

The pairs of contrasting voices were excellent - the pert soprano of Susanna (Serrena Wagner) and the dignified Countess (Sarah Helsby-Hughes), the dancing baritone of Figaro (Francis Church) and the menace of Almaviva (David Palmer).

Adrian Lawson (perfect diction - G and S experience no doubt) touched in a couple of comic turns, and Martin Lamb was as drunk a gardener as you hope to avoid. Marcellina's pompous spite (Sioned Ellis) contrasted with the lively cheek of Cherubino (Wendy Sharrock). Coming late to the action, his Barberina was sweetly played and sung by Samantha Chambers.

Just when I was admiring their ensemble work, along would come a famous aria, finely taken. Best to applaud all-round talent and hope they come south again.