OPERA has long delighted Celebrate Voice audiences.

The Medieval Hall, transformed into a mystical woodland wonderland, provides the breathtaking setting for Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, sung in a new English translation. Together with a first-class cast of singers whose joint credits include the Royal Opera House, La Scala, Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, to name but a few, provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to be up-close with these world class voices.

Madeleine Shaw, one of her generation’s most prolific mezzo sopranos plays the witch, with Miranda Westcott, Claire Egan as Hansel and Gretel and Katie Lowe, fresh from a major prize award in Sydney last month appears as Mother. The festival also presents local mezzo, Emma Watkinson as Sandman, originally from Tisbury, who is carving a major career for herself on the operatic stage.

This centrepiece production showcases the talents of children from 12 local schools in the children’s chorus. Sponsored by Chas Baker and Smith & Williamson, the show runs for five performances, opening on October 21.

Blackadder and Monty Python collide with opera for the hilarious, universally critically acclaimed production Tales of Offenbach, performed by leading comic opera company Opera della Luna’s and their 5* troupe, including the festival’s artistic director and professional opera singer, Lynsey Docherty. The show runs for two nights (October 25 and 27) at Godolphin School’s Blackledge Theatre, sponsored by Wilsons Law.