The Marches Choir of Bishop’s Castle will present ‘Viva Opera!’, an exuberant evening of Opera and Operetta in the ballroom at Walcot Hall, Lydbury North. The concert will feature some wonderful music from the world of opera by Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini and also, for the first time, light opera by Franz Lehar and Johann Strauss.

Opera singers from Aberystwyth will join with the choir for the event and local professional soprano Caroline Clarke will once again be the guest star performer.  Puccini’s O Mio Babbino and Lehar’s Laughing Song are among her solos!

The evening will take the form of a gala, with songs, arias and choruses from Operettas such as The Merry Widow (Lehar) and Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss) and Opera, including The Magic Flute (Mozart), L’Elisir D’Amour (Donizetti), I Lombardo (Verdi), Gianni Schicchino (Puccini).

Conductor and Musical Director, Alistair Auld, says: “Viva Opera! will give the Marches Choir an opportunity to present a very different programme of music to their audience than in their regular concerts at St John’s Church, Bishop’s Castle. As well as the wonderful Opera treats in store, this year we are also performing some lighter music from famous Operettas. The ballroom at Walcot Hall is a stunning venue in which the choir have performed twice previously - it is an ideal backdrop for Opera with an elegant ambience and wonderful acoustics. I am very excited about this concert, with its theatrical and entertaining appeal. An event not to be missed!’’

The concert will start at 7.30pm, and tickets, £15 (children and students free), are available by calling 01588 650315 or online (see below).