SENSATIONAL soprano star Lesley Garrett stars in the Welsh National Opera’s (WNO) exciting new production of Chorus!

In Southampton on Wednesday. It is one of just three spellbinding productions by WNO at the Mayflower Theatre this week.

‘Spellbound’ is the theme for Spring 2015, which will highlight the natural affinity between music and magic with revivals of Hansel & Gretel (March 28) and The Magic Flute (March 26 and 27) alongside Chorus!

The original concept for Chorus! was conceived by WNO and directed by David Pountney in 2004.

This new version, also under the creative vision and direction of David Pountney, celebrates one of WNO’s greatest assets, the Chorus.

Lesley Garrett CBE will be performing alongside the WNO Chorus in what is billed as “an enchanting, witty and spectacular journey through the rich repertoire of choral music and a chance to experience some of opera’s bestloved moments.”

Talking exclusively to the Daily Echo Lesley said the evening was “a taster menu to the choruses that are the backbone of the great operas” and described herself as “the cherry on the cake”.

She said the evening offers: “a real mixture – something for everyone .

If you are nervous about opera this is a great way to give it a try. This is not a concert but a series of intricately woven pieces.

Every piece is acted out with a full orchestra and is amazing. It is totally produced as you would in opera.

“Opera choruses really are the foundations of opera – the backbone that hold it together. The opera purists appreciate that and the fact that we are giving the choruses the chance to shine – they are the unsung heroes. I have to sing out of my socks to keep up with them!”

Lesley is clearly thrilled to be back performing with WNO and performing at the top of her gamedespite the fast approach of her 60th birthday.

Talking about her remarkable longevity she said: ”I have been having singing lessons regularly for 40 years now.

"Like a personal fitness trainer you have to keep your vocal muscles trained – that’s why I have been able to keep going for so long because I’ve looked after myself. You do need to keep fit too – I need to look good in the dress!

"I have some fabulous costumes – all in the red and black theme of the show.

"“I will be 60 next month and I can’t wait! I’m so proud of the fact I’m still here doing it. I’m honoured to be able to sing.

"This is the 36th anniversary of being in the profession. And I’m really looking forward to being 60 and doing my next opera Cosi Fan Tutte.

"To tell you the truth I’m looking forward to and anticipating this fabulous sense of freedom. My kids are at university now; I feel I’m doing everything I want and more with my career and I have a lovely husband and home.

"I’ve ticked all the boxes and now feel I can be free to pick and choose what I want to do. It’s a wonderful feeling not to be anxious about anything.”

"Pressed to reveal the secret of her enduring talent she said the introduction of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) was changing the face of opera. She also urged composers to write more parts for the mature woman!

“I’m enjoying this wonderful autumn of my career and HRT has worked wonders! In the past women lost the tops of their voices with the menopause but now parts need to be written for older sopranos who in the past were finished with the menopause but now we are keeping our voices.

"If opera is to be conceived as a contemporary art form composers need to write about contemporary characters – and that includes older women. We need some good meaty parts: women in Hollywood are saying the same.

"We are hitting our prime now in our careers well into our 60’s.”

Chorus! will include opera classics such as the ‘Humming Chorus’ from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and ‘Va Pensiero’ from Verdi’s Nabucco alongside the Epigraph from Prokofiev’s War and Peace and ‘Alabama Song’ from Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.

"Two pieces from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance will also feature: ‘A Policeman’s Lot’ and ‘With Cat-like Tread’. Chorus! will be conducted by WNO Chorus Master, Alexander Martin.

Later in the week classic revivals of The Magic Flute and Hansel & Gretel will transport the audience into a world of magic, make-believe and delight, but are also ultimately about the power of rationalism over magic.

WNO Music Director Lothar Koenigs will conduct both Hansel & Gretel and The Magic Flute. Mozart’s much-loved The Magic Flute returns to WNO in this Magritteinspired production – originally directed by Dominic Cooke – which features an angry lobster, a newspaper-reading lion and a fish that is transformed into a bicycle.

In Southampton, The Magic Flute will feature Allan Clayton singing the role of Tamino, with Sophie Bevan and Anita Watson sharing the role of Pamina.

South African-born baritone Jacques Imbrailo will sing the role of Papageno, and Samantha Hay will sing the Queen of the Night.

The roles of the three boys will be sung by female students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as part of WNO’s partnership with the college to provide mentoring and support for its Opera Performance students.

Mayflower Theatre Box Office: 02380 711 811.