Enjoy the magic of a Victorian Christmas to the sounds of some great classics next week.

A Christmas Night at the Opera is being staged at The Woodville and includes music of great composers such as Mozart, Verdi, Rossini and Gilbert and Sullivan.

Decked out in Victorian dress, the London Festival Opera will serenade the audience with a Yuletide repertoire including the love scene from Act One of Puccini’s La Boheme, which is set on Christmas Eve.

It is aimed at both opera lovers and newcomers alike, young and old.

Artistic director Philip Blake-Jones said: “It’s going to be an evening that will appeal to opera lovers but it’s also an ideal opportunity for people to go to the opera for the first time.

“It will be an international cast of artists that have appeared at major operas including the English National Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera.

“You’re going to get really famous arias that you’ll be introduced to and people will be taken by the arm really and shown some of the most glorious pieces of opera.”

Mr Blake-Jones, a baritone soloist, will be among the performers. He has had a successful career as an operatic performer and has previously sung at the Royal Albert Hall in London as well as the Pisa Opera House in Italy.

He said:“Along with the Christmas pieces like Christmas carols, we’re going to do a piece from La Boheme and also there may be a surprise appearance from an operatic Santa, so the programme appeals to kids as well. Actually it appeals to the whole family.

“I think people are amazed at the volume that operatic vocals produce without a microphone and that is the thing people are really impressed by. It is a wonderful sound.”

The show, on Friday, November 22, is part of the Classical Season, supported by the Messenger.

For information visit www.woodville.co.uk. Tickets are £19.