"IT just doesn't get much better than this." That's the upbeat message from Newport-born singer Neal Davies, who is riding on the crest of an operatic wave.

In fact it has been a whirlwind of work since 1991 when Neal won the coveted Lieder Prize in what is now the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

The curtain this week lifted on the former St Julian's schoolboy's latest debut at English National Opera singing Zebul in Jephtha - a role he brings to Wales next year - and he has notched up a string of high-profile performances between the two.

And who says tenors have all the fun roles? Chatting to Neal before the first night in London it is clear he is thoroughly enjoying the range of both full-scale opera and concert work he is able to perform thanks to being a bass baritone.

"The bass baritone voice is ideal for oratorio which I love," he explained. "I have recently made my debut with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which was an absolute joy to do. To sing Bach's St Mathew's Passion with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, well, it just doesn't get much better than that!"

Neal spent the spring at ENO singing Publio in a much-acclaimed production of Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito and is back with the company at the end of the year to sing Ariodates in Handel's Xerxes, to be conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, the former musical director of Welsh National Opera who is celebrating his 80th birthday this year.

Neal says he is also looking forward to working with Sir Charles again in the summer with Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. It was with Gilbert and Sullivan that Neal made quite a splash at the Lyric Opera in Chicago last year in Pirates of Penzance.

"I hadn't sung Gilbert and Sullivan since at school in Newport. It turned out to be very much the hit of the season and the Americans loved it.

"I'm looking forward enormously to working with Sir Charles again because he has been a very important part of my career since he conducted a Messiah I was singing in back in 1989 when I was still a student at the Royal Academy."

South Wales audiences last saw Neal singing with WNO in Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte and before that Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore.

It is all a long way from taking part in the international singing competition back in 1991.

"It was my 24th birthday the day I sang in my concert round and I had just finished a year at the International Opera Studio in Zurich. Looking back I was possibly a bit too young for the competition, especially for a low voice, although the song worked well."

Neal then worked in Coburg in Germany. "Because I had the contract in Germany for two-and-a-half years I didn't immediately capitalise on the competition too much in Britain. As far as most people were concerned I was working abroad. It meant I had time to consolidate things rather than feeling pressurised."

The contract at the Coburg Opera House was a result of studying at the International Opera Studio, and that was thanks to the help of Pontnewynydd-born soprano Dame Gwyneth Jones.

After St Julian's Neal attended King's College, London and the Royal Academy of Music before he was then "spotted" by Dame Gwyneth at a concert in London. She arranged for Neal to attend the Zurich opera school and Neal stayed with Dame Gwynedd and her family in their Switzerland home.

"That time in Germany meant that when I came home to South Wales and sang with Welsh National Opera I was 27 rather than a 24 year old," he said.

So as winner of what has now become the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize what advice does he have to the 2005 contestant representing Wales, Wrexham-born soprano Camilla Roberts when she competes in her preliminary round on Wednesday, June 15,and hopefully the final on Sunday, June 19?

"Chose your programme carefully to make sure it is what you are confident with but which also shows a really good range of the voice."

The Song Prize is now a separate competition with four preliminary concerts between Saturday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 14, at the New Theatre, Cardiff ,during the same week as the main prize with Camilla singing on Monday, June 13.

The Song Prize then has its own final on Friday, June 17 at St David's Hall, Cardiff.