SOME of the country's brightest opera stars helped raise some £4,000 for Swindon charities.
They entertained 165 guests at The Hilton Hotel in West Swindon, as part of a special concert and dinner hosted by Swindon mayor Derek Benfield.
Proceeds from the evening, which included a champagne reception and four-course meal, will go towards his mayoral charities The Prospect Hospice and The Swindon Women's Refuge.
Coun Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) said: "It was a superb night. The audience was enraptured throughout by the marvellous music."
The performers included accompanist David Syrus, who is head of music at the Royal Opera House, bass Graeme Broadbent, who has worked with opera great Luciano Pavarotti, and mezzo soprano Elizabeth Sikora, who has sung for the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet.
The programme included favourites from operas such as Puccini's Tosca, Bizet's Carmen and Kern's Showboat.
The event came to a grand climax with an auction of encores, which raised £1,700.
Coun Benfield said: "It was spectacular. The highest bid for a song was £400.
"The generosity shown was so impressive. I'm seriously considering organising another one for next year."
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