ROBERT Benchley said: “Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back and instead of bleeding, he sings.”

Despite this unusual but accurate view, Amici choir is taking a new path by entering the world of grand opera for its next concert at St John’s Church in Wellington on Saturday at 7.30pm.

A lot of the most celebrated operas are Italian and Amici’s concert will include some of the finest tunes from that country’s composers, especially Verdi. But the choir will also be singing in French and Russian as it tackles Bizet, Tchaikovsky and Borodin.

Opera is famous for the big arias – solo songs where sopranos and tenors unleash their massive voices.

But in many operas the chorus has a vital role to play, underpinning the drama, contributing vital links in the plot and conveying the sense of what is happening from the point of the ordinary people around the main characters.

So in this concert the chorus will share equal billing with the stars. Joining Amici are four stunning soloists who have made their mark on the operatic stage. Soprano Suzanne Manuell, mezzo Alison Kettlewell, tenor John Hudson and bass Eddie Wade are all professional and star quality operatic singers, and the evening will feature many of the ‘big hit’ arias that audiences everywhere love to hear again and again.

Musical direction is in the safe hands of Andrew Trewhella, shared with the choir’s very able assistant musical director and accompanist, Peter Adcock.

Tickets cost £12 (£8 for students/under 12s free) and are available from www.amicichoir.org.uk, Wellington Tourist Information Centre, Flowers and Interiors by Design in Wellington and Taunton Tourist Information Centre.

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