FOR the third year running the beauty and professionalism of the Garsington Opera will be delighting audiences at an estate by Stokenchurch. The internationally renowned opera moved to the Wormsley Estate, owned by the Getty family in 2011, and organisers have not looked back.

Nicola Creed, who was appointed executive director last November, talks about the final preparations before the season begins in June and how they have installed a new heating system to keep opera lovers warm.

Nicola Creed has been with Garsington Opera since 1999 when she was appointed by Leonard Ingrams. After his untimely death in 2005, Anthony Whitworth-Jones took over as general director, but he retired last summer.

Now Nicola has been appointed as the executive director with Douglas Boyd as the artistic director, and they are gearing up for the next exciting season which begins on June 7 and runs through until July 20.

The operas chosen for this year are Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Rossini's Maometto secondo and Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel, as well as a community opera called Road Rage.

I spoke to Nicola last week just as rehearsals were about to move from London to Wormsley.

She said: "We have been having rehearsals in London for the last three weeks. All three productions are side by side in rehearsal rooms in London.

"You have this extraordinary culture change as you go from melodramatic Rossini through to the comedy of Mozart. You close that door and just a little bit along the corridor is Hansel and Gretel with all the mysteries of the wood and enchantment.

"It really is extraordinary. The three different casts are all very different.

"They have to tackle such different music.

"Each one takes on the character of the cast which is wonderful."

For 22 years the opera had been held in the Garsington Manor gardens, until it needed to find a new home in 2011, which is when it moved to Wormsley.

Nicola said: "It is an extraordinary place. It doesn't matter how much you look at it on the internet you don't get the full feel of it until you have got there."

Snell Associates were commissioned to build an opera pavilion for Wormsley, which has won a number of awards for its architectural excellence.

It is put up each year in the Wormsley Estate and although it is covered from above and to the side audience members can see out onto the garden.

Nicola said: "I think that is what makes us quite different from anywhere else. There is nowhere else where you sit inside, in a really warm, comfortable theatre and look out at a garden.

"You can see the garden as the light fades.

"The sun shines across the stage. By the time you comes back from the second half after a long interval for a picnic or in the restaurant the light really becomes quite dark.

"The lighting of the theatre really picks up and you get that wonderful glow."

And following comments last year they have had another heating system installed to keep the audience warm.

Nicola said: "If people were a bit chilly last year we very much hope they will come and give us another go.

"We have put in a whole new heating system."

The price of the tickets have a £65 voluntary contribution, which more than 80 per cent of ticket buyers choose to pay.

Nicola said: "We would love opera to be accessible to everyone. We feel passionately that opera is a very immediate and accessible medium, especially the way we do it. "Even in the back row of the auditorium which seats only 600 you feel you are very much part of the action on the stage.

"You can see every nuance of expression from the singers because of that.

"If you are way back in a theatre you feel disengaged. Here you feel very strongly it is a really good way to get to know opera as a medium.

"We would love for it to be cheap tickets for everyone.

"Without the voluntary contribution that the majority of people do pay we couldn't keep the ticket prices the way they are.

"It is a very expensive thing to put on."

And this year Matthew Rose is returning to perform in Mozart after he debuted with the opera about five years ago.

Nicola said: "We champion young singers. We have got very attractive, very vibrant energetic young singers who have got the most wonderful voices.

"A number of them stay with us for several years. They make our début with us then go on to great things."

The season runs from June 7 to July 20. Audience members may arrive from 4pm. Tickets range from £95 to £170, with the £65 contribution. To book call 01865 361636 or go to www.garsingtonopera.org