Any projects that give performance opportunities to young musicians are to be applauded. The Little Opera Company, launched in January by recent graduates of the Royal Academy of Music, is one such company, and if its concert of opera scenes and arias last Friday is anything to go by, then its arrival on to the musical scene should be welcomed.

With input from leading opera director John Ramster, this was a delightful selection of operatic favourites, performed by a quartet of young singers who demonstrated vocal proficiency and dramatic flair in equal measures.

My mind did a momentary double-take when I saw the name Melvin Tan in the programme. This was not, however, the world-renowned pianist Melvyn Tan, but his much younger namesake, who also hails from Singapore, but is intent on pursuing a career as an operatic tenor. Tan, for me, was the star of the evening; here was a naturally gifted tenor with a gloriously rich and musical voice that instantly captivated and enthralled. I could have listened to him singing You Are My Heart's Delight from Léhar's The Land of Smiles all evening.

But there was a strong contribution, too, from soprano Celena Bridge (pictured), one of the company's founders, who expertly captured the characters of Susanna from The Marriage of Figaro and Valencienne from The Merry Widow, while her rendition of Adele's famous 'laughing' song from Die Fledermaus was a vocal triumph. No less impressive was Cathy Young's memorable Vilia, and Thomas Humphrey's slightly tentative but solidly sung Vedrai mentrio sospiro from The Marriage of Figaro, while pianist Claire Howard provided solid but unobtrusive accompaniment throughout. The evening ended in suitably sparkling fashion with the 'champagne' finale from Die Fledermaus.

This was a very promising Oxford debut from an exciting young company that was slick, pacy and entertaining. Future engagements include a new opera, The Garden Party by Christopher Meux, a specially commissioned piece to be performed as a collaborative project with Queen's College in London. For more information about the company, visit http://www.thelittleoperacompany.co.uk.