Opera star sings for the survival of local church

2:15pm Wednesday 25th June 2008

THE opera world can't get enough of Selsley based mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly.

Her singing has been described as flawless, her technique breathtaking, and her stage presence as thrilling and intense.

As soon as she finishes her current stint at the English National Opera in Der Rosenkavalier, she's straight off to Glyndeboune.

But on Saturday, July 5, Sarah's putting the opera world on hold to sing for the survival of her local church.

The Church of All Saints in Selsley is an exceptional and historically important Arts and Crafts building, with stained glass windows designed by William Morris and his partners Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown. But now its Cotswold tile roof needs replacing, and that will cost over £400,000.

Sarah, along with ten of her local musician friends, is putting on a special concert in the church to help raise the cash.

"It's very important to maintain the well being of this building, not so much for religious reasons, but because it's a beautiful building that will be here long after we're gone, if it's looked after," she said.

"It's the most beautiful church. It's based on an Austrian Tyrol design, hence the strange steeple.

"I'm very touched that my musician colleagues are coming together to do this," she said.

"It'll be a bit of a squeeze. We can fit in about 160 people. Most of the musicians will play standing up to make a bit more room, and we'll put people in the choir stalls as well," she said.

Sarah and friends are calling themselves the Cotswold Baroque Players for the occasion and will perform pieces by Bach and Handel.

For further information and booking call Liz Gardiner on 01453 764798.