AUDIENCES are being given a rare opportunity to see one of Britain’s leading Sopranos perform in Salisbury for the very first time.

Lesley Garrett is going to be performing a special charity concert in association with Musical Theatre Salisbury on Saturday, June 11, 7.30pm, at City Hall.

Garrett studied at the Royal Academy of Music and her climb to fame started after she was awarded the Decca Prize of the Kathleen Ferrier Award.

Her professional career began at Opera North before moving onto English National Opera where she became lead Soprano for 14 years. She has performed many iconic leading roles including Musetta (La Bohème), Rosina (The Barber of Seville), Yum Yum (The Mikado) and the title role in The Cunning Little Vixen.

In recent years she crossed over to musical theatre and played Mother Abbess in Andrew Lloyd Webbers revival of The Sound of Music in the West End and also played Nettie Fowler in Carousel.

Garrett also has the distinction of performing at the last FA Cup Final at the Old Wembley. She has recorded many best-selling CDs, been a presenter on Classic FM and appeared on many television specials including partnering Anton Du Beke in Strictly Come Dancing where they came third and been a presenter on ITV’s Loose Women.

Lesley Garrett has never performed in Salisbury before. Her current repertoire is wide ranging and includes popular opera arias to musicals including O Mio Babbino Caro, Panus Angelicus, Summertime, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, Moon River and many many more.

Supporting her will be a choir of 40 members from Musical Theatre Salisbury who will perform in their own right a range of popular songs from Musical Theatre shows such as Mary Poppins, The Lion King, Miss Saigon, Matilda and West Side Story and more.

Garrett and the Musical Theatre Salisbury choir will also combine to perform some special numbers.

A donation from the proceeds from the evening will be made to Salisbury Hospice.

Tickets are available from City Hall on 01733434434 or by going to cityhallsalisbury.co.uk