Warminster Civic Centre will resound with songs of love and longing, freedom and oppression, seduction and betrayal when The Athenaeum Singers present A Night at the Opera.

The concert at 7pm on Saturday, June 18 will include extracts from great operas which tell stories of the human experience with drama and passion. The melodies will be familiar to many and most of the pieces will be sung in English.

Soprano soloist Mary Pope will portray a saucy seductress in Bizet’s Habanera from the opera Carmen, in contrast to her tragic lament from Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Mary is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music who has performed extensively in recital and oratorio in addition to operatic roles. She will be joined by baritone soloist Paul Fletcher, a former member of Bath Abbey choir and also the Bath Light Operatic Group.

The Athenaeum Singers will make up the chorus of fast changing characters, from islanders to soldiers, voyagers to slaves and from pilgrims to heavy drinkers. Their contribution includes The Humming Chorus from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Verdi’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco.

Accomplished rehearsal accompanist, Douglas Stevens, who does so much to aid the singers each week, will accompany on the piano. Instrumentalists from the British Sinfonietta will convey the excitement of the original scores, with strings and woodwind, brass and percussion sections to portray the full flavour in a small venue.

At the helm will be the singers’ Director of Music, Edward-Rhys Harry, who recently led a full day rehearsal concentrating on the performance of opera. His deep love for the music and his considerable ability to shape and blend the sound of the choir will underpin the singing. Regular weekly rehearsals are led by Chorus Master Patrick Barrett. He is a teacher of immense skill and understanding who is able to draw on a range of specific techniques to support the voice which the choir have found valuable and enjoyable. His approach has been described as ‘master class techniques for an amateur choir’.

Delicious canapes will be served during the interval and a licenced bar will be open before the concert and during the break. This evening is a contrast to the Athenaeum Singers' usual classical repertoire and they look forward to a new venue and presenting glorious melodies and rousing choruses.