Opera by request night at Kelsall Community Centre is a hit with villagers, raising money for the Kelsall Green Project

Mar 6 2009 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

A STUNNING night of opera in Kelsall raised funds to the tune of more than £150.

The event, held in Kelsall Community Centre, was hosted by home grown pianist Emily Leather, soprano Eleanor Moran and tenor Mark Cunningham.

The Opera on Request night is known as Kelsall’s “best kept secret” and funds raised on the night through the raffle were donated to the Kelsall Green play area project.

Songs and music were performed from a list of requests taken from previous year’s event – this being the fourth consecutive year Kelsall has staged the concert.

Highlights included a superb rendition of Nessun Dorma, Una Furtiva Lagrima, La Donna è Mobile and Debussy’s Claire de Lune.

Pianist Emily is the daughter of parish council chairman John Leather, who said: “It was a great night and something very family based. This is how we do things in Kelsall.”

Emily is currently an opera singer coach in America and is about to tour the world aboard a cruise ship.

Eleanor is a soloist soprano with the Gala Ensemble whose Best of Gilbert and Sullivan CD is currently top of the classic music charts.

Tenor Mark recently starred in Phantom of the Opera and is about to tour America, South America and Hawaii.