THE last few tickets are on sale for a special concert featuring leading opera singers Claire Rutter and Stephen Gadd.

The couple, who live in Winchester, will be performing with the Southern Sinfonia to celebrate the New Year.

Proceeds from the charity concert will go to The Pinder Centre at Avington near Alresford.

It will take place at Winchester Guildhall on New Year’s Eve, running from 6 to 8pm.

The timing is designed to allow people enough time to head off to New Year parties, in addition to the show.

The programme is expected to feature some Viennese favourites including works by Johann Strauss II and Franz Lehár.

Claire Rutter has already starred as Lucrezia Borgia with English National Opera earlier this year.

She has also played the title roles of Tosca for the English National Opera, Aida at the Royal Albert Hall, and Madame Butterfly at Grange Park Opera.

Her husband, Stephen Gadd, took the title role of Macbeth at Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He also sang at Grange Park Opera as Kurwenal in Tristan and Isolde.

The Southern Sinfonia will be conducted by Matthew Wood, and will play alongside Austrian violinist Alexander Hohenthal.

Visit ruttergadd.co.uk/newyear or call 0800 411 8881 to book, or visit the Tourist Information Centre at the guildhall.