A RARE opportunity to see and hear two of the world's greatest opera singers is happening in Cheltenham on the opening weekend of the Cheltenham International Festival of Music.

The Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund (LINC) is delighted to announce that Jose Carreras is coming to sing at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday, July 5 at 7.30pm in aid of his own International Leukaemia Foundation and LINC. His very special guest will be Welsh bass baritone Bryn Terfel.

The performance will take place on a specially designed outdoor stage, with seating for 6,500 people on the concourse and in the grandstand. The singers will be accompanied by the royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Jose Carreras began his international career in London in 1971 to great acclaim and that career continued to blossom. Then in 1987, at the age of 40 and when filming La Boheme in Paris, he became unwell and blood tests confirmed that he had leukaemia.

After successful chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, he set up the Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation in his home town of Barcelona.

Bryn Terfel studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, winning the 1988 Kathleen Ferrier Scholarship and the 1989 Gold Medal award.

The same year he also won the Lieder Prize at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition. He has performed at all the great opera houses of the world and also at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Rugby World Cup in 1999. He was awarded the CBE in this year's New Year's honours list.

LINC works to improve the care of patients receiving intensive chemotherapy at Cheltenham General Hospital and has recently launched a new appeal to raise £70,000 for a flow cytometer to help in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Tickets (£20-85) from Cheltenham Town Hall on 01242 227979.