SALISBURY’S award-winning festival, Celebrate Voice makes its first summer appearance with a special country house fundraising gala concert under the stars next month.

The performance on Saturday, June 29 from 6pm at Little Durnford Manor in the Woodford Valley, invites audiences to picnic early evening, before enjoying a line-up of international artists from Celebrate Voice’s past and present opera productions.

Featuring opera’s greatest hits, with a community choir, youth chorus and the Westminster Chamber Orchestra, the audience can expect sublime music, amidst glorious countryside surroundings. The event is suitable for the whole family, and showcases singers who have collectively sung at the major opera houses and festivals in the UK and abroad.

Celebrate Voice founder and artistic director Lynsey Docherty says: “We are delighted to have been gifted this stunning location for a summer celebration, to raise funds for a very exciting year ahead.

“Our audiences have got to know and love the various singers who come to Salisbury from all over the world, and it’s a chance to see them perform some great operatic show stoppers and lighter fun numbers. And having these performers sing alongside a local choir and youth chorus made up of young people from Salisbury schools, really embeds the performance in our community.”

Performers include New Zealand soprano Carleen Ebbs, and Latvian baritone Pauls Putnins, together with 2016 Tosca tenor sensation, Stephen Aviss and celebrated mezzo Flora MacIntosh with Lynsey Docherty performing and compering. The performance will be under the baton of Peter Ford, a locally born and educated conductor, with the Westminster Chamber Orchestra.

Celebrate Voice 2019 promises to be the “most revolutionary year so far” for the home grown festival, with plans in full swing for a 200-seat theatre to be assembled in the Guildhall Square for the 10-day celebrations, from October 25 to November 2.

The festival has thanked the Earls and Countess of Chichester for the venue and their ongoing support.

Tickets are priced £30 for adults (or £25 if booked before June 14) and £10 for child and are available from celebratevoice.co.uk, calling 01722 434434 or in person from Salisbury City Hall’s box Office.