We can't say So Long or Farewell to The Sound Of Music because, next year, the great-grandchildren of the real Von Trapp family are coming to the region to perform. Steve Pratt talks to singer Melanie Von Trapp.

THE tills are alive with the sound of cash being taken as Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical The Sound Of Music plays at the London Palladium. Now the real thing, the Von Trapp children - descendants of Captain Von Trapp - are preparing to tour the UK for the first time.

The four children - great-grandchildren of the captain who fell in love with his youngsters' novice nun turned governess in wartime Austria - will be appearing in Newcastle and York on the tour.

Sofia, 18, Melanie, 16, and Amanda, 15, will be joined by 12-year-old Justin in carrying on the family singing tradition.

Although this is their first appearance in this country, the Von Trapps are no strangers to performing. They spend eight months of the year on the road performing, explains Melanie over the phone during a break from a four-month US tour. "We've been singing ever since we were little but professionally for about five years. We've learnt so much and it's something all of us love to do," she says. Surprisingly, she says that their parents, Stefan and Annie, "can't sing at all" but their children have clearly inherited the joy of singing from the original Von Trapps.

"We're sort of carrying on the family tradition, but there was no pressure from our grandparents," says Melanie. "A love of music has been passed down to us. That love comes naturally to us, we love to sing for people and to tour around - and we have a great time doing it."

The story of Captain Von Trapp, his children and the arrival of Maria into their lives become well-known through The Sound Of Music, first on stage and then on film with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Melanie recalls seeing the film for the first time when she was about four. Or at least, part of the film. "We had it on two video cassettes. We watched the first but had lost the second, so we couldn't watch the end for ages. Now I've seen it more than a million times, but it's still a wonderful movie. It definitely stands the test of time. We love it and the music never gets old. We still sing it all the time.

"We gradually started to understand a little more about what the story meant to us. It's our grandparents on screen. Once it clicked into place for me, it was weird seeing the movie and realising the story is well-known all over the world," she says.

The Von Trapp Children have performed with orchestras across America as well as touring their own show to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and Europe. Their repertoire includes folk and classical songs from Europe and the US along with songs from The Sound Of Music. They've recorded several albums and three years ago appeared in a stage production of the musical in North Carolina and Las Vegas, playing characters based on their grandfather and three of their great aunts. Melanie played Brigitta with Justin as Kurt - his grandfather.

"When we were little we went to vocal lessons and coaches. Now on tour we sort of critique ourselves and each other on the road. It's something of a group effort. Mostly Sofia and I will produce our shows, put them together and arrange the songs. That's an element she and I love to do. It's nice to be part of everything, not just performing," says Maria.

Their parents, who run a masonry business in Montana, travel with them when they go on tour. Their schooling is conducted on the road, through a tutor using email and the telephone. "It's a very different kind of arrangement for school than most kids," she says.

Like most brothers and sisters, they fall out occasionally. "Everyone has little spats but we get along really well. I think it's mainly because we've been together ever since we were little. We're each other's best friends and are constantly around each other It's really great to be close to your family," she adds.

Things could change as they grow up and leave school. Melanie explains: "We're all having an amazing time. But Sofia is going off to college soon and that's going to be difficult for us. She's going to find a college where she can take time off to tour. Hopefully, we'll continue for a long time yet.

"I think some of us might carry on singing. For all of us, music will always be in our blood and a passion. If we don't continue to perform or sing together, we'll still do something involved with music."

* The Von Trapp Children appear at York Grand Opera House on May 19 (Box Office 0870-606 3595) and Newcastle City Hall on May 20 (0191-261 2606).