HARD-WORKING Canberra entrepreneur Carl Rafferty has scored a coup – he’ll be bringing opera star Cheryl Barker to Canberra for two recitals in October.

There’s no mistaking his enthusiasm. “Swoon to the voice of Australia’s most important international opera star, Cheryl Barker, when she gives you a concert of operetta, highlights from Puccini, and some charming light selections,” Rafferty says.

It’s also a coup for the Drill Hall Gallery, the intimate venue for the recital, where listeners will be only a few metres from Barker.

But of course the space is tiny, so only 100 music lovers can fit in.

Barker, seen here in  “Voices in the Forest, 2015”, is perhaps best known for playing Mimi in Baz Luhrmann’s stage production and film of “La Bohème,” but she has also been centre stage at Covent Garden, Hamburg, Berlin and Geneva playing Tosca and Madama Butterfly and for her sensational roles in the Strauss opera “Der Rosenkavalier” and “Salome.”

Apart from the great Puccini arias, a highlight will be “Rusalka’s Song to the Moon” by Dvo?ák and the singers of Opera by Candlelight joining Barker in “The Nun’s Chorus” from the Strauss/Benatsky operetta “Casanova”. More popular elements will be “Vilia’s Song” from “The Merry Widow” (also including chorus) and songs from Ivor Novello and George Gershwin.

Cheryl Barker champagne performances, Drill Hall Gallery at 5-6.45pm on Saturday October 29 and at 5-6.45pm on Sunday October 30. Doors open 4.30pm. Bookings online only to trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=228449 and trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=228451