Experienced and emerging stars from the world of opera will be giving their services free next week to help raise funds for projects in Oxford’s twin town of Leon, writes Nicola Lisle.

In what promises to be a glittering occasion, the audience can enjoy an informal and relaxed concert of opera favourites, with supper thrown in for good measure.

A Bite at the Opera is being masterminded by Covent Garden star Quentin Hayes, who has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Oxford-Leon links for many years.

“This is the sixth one of these we’ve done,” he tells me. “We do them every two years, and they grow in size.

“I have six opera singers — three men and three women — and a pianist, and I’m trying to introduce some younger singers. We’re doing selections from Carmen, Rigoletto, Traviata, Faust, Magic Flute, including things like Nessun Dorma and the Pearl Fishers Duet. So it’s basically stuff people know, but there’s about two or three arias that are less run of the mill.

“We’re doing about nine or ten items in a 40-minute slot, then people have a bit of peace and quiet and some speeches, then we’ll do a second set again of about ten items — arias, duets, trios and quartets. I compere the evening, and do a few anecdotes, a bit of background spiel as to what the arias are about.

“We’ve built up quite a following over the years — I’ve never known anyone yet go away saying ‘that was awful’,” he laughs. “They keep coming back for more.”

Quentin has visited Nicaragua with his wife, and seen for himself the benefits of the links with Leon.

“I’ve seen the nature of the country — Nicaragua has 14 volcanoes. It’s already changing socially, politically and geographically.

“I went out there and took massive bags of sweets to remote places, and the mothers seemed delighted, even if the kids were feeding the sweets to the pigs.”

The special opera gala is just one of a series of events being held to mark the 25th anniversary of Oxford’s links with the Nicaraguan town, and May Wylie, who retired as international officer last summer but continues her involvement as a volunteer, is delighted that the link between the two towns has been maintained for so long.

“It’s quite amazing, actually,” she says. “It was very much a political statement when it was set up, and I suspect no one thought it would be sustained over this time.”

So what does the money get spent on?

“It’s very much about alleviating poverty — that’s been the emphasis over the years. So there’s clean water schemes and irrigations schemes. There’s also some money being earmarked for projects for young people. It’s basically about wherever we can make the most impact.

“They’ll be making a final decision in March when we’ve finished the celebrations and know exactly how much we have to spend.”

To book, call 01865 252351. Tickets are £29.95, including supper.