THE tradition and rousing classical music of The Last Night of the Proms are coming to an historic North-East chapel for the first time this month.

Classical music fans are expected to flock to Ushaw Historic House & Gardens for red, white and blue flag-waving event on Saturday, October 12, from 7:30pm.

The concert will be held in the magnificent 19th century St Cuthbert’s Chapel, and will feature music by Strauss, Verdi, Donizetti, Puccin, Berlioz, Rossini, Elgar, and Parry, alongside performances from the resident Ushaw Chapel Choir and the championship Easington Colliery Band.

Easington Colliery band was founded in 1915 and was supported financially by the joint board of unions until the start of the Second World War. Now completely self-funded, the band is still based in the old colliery pay office, opposite the Memorial Gardens, on the site of the old colliery.

Audiences will also be treated to solo performances from Australian soprano Laura Wolk-Lewanowicz, who has been described in Opera magazine as “electrifying, every inch an Aida”, and baritone Chris Childs Santos – “a fine, rich voice”.

Organisers promise all the fun and excitement that The Last Night of the Proms is known for, and audience members are being encouraged to wave flags and not be shy to come in fancy-dress.

The traditional concert has been organised by InterOpera, a charity dedicated to introducing new audiences to live opera from world-class artists, and will be directed by Alistair Dawes, conductor of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Jonathan Ward, Ushaw’s commercial manager, said: “This is the first time we have held a Last Night of the Proms event and it promises to be a really fabulous evening.

“The magnificent setting of St Cuthbert’s Chapel is perfect for a night of flag-waving musical celebration, and we look forward to it becoming a fixture of Ushaw’s cultural calendar.”

Tickets cost £10 each, or £2 for under 18s, and are available from the Ushaw Box Office on 01913-738-500, or by visiting www.ushawboxoffice.com.