Impromptu performances of Puccini classics by professional singer Wendy Goodson helped launch a new holiday venture outside York Minster this week.

Andrew Wright, a retired schoolteacher from York, and business woman Debbie England, have set up a new business, Opera Tours Italy.

Debbie, who also runs vehicle leasing and insurance businesses ALA Insurance and carleasinguk, which has been in Malton for 15 years, and Andrew, who retired as director of music at St Peter’s School in York last summer, came up with the idea about five years ago.

Debbie, whose children are choristers at St Peter’s, accompanied them on a school trip to Florence led by Andrew, and the two saw a gap in the market for tailored trips for a holiday that brought the specialist knowledge of opera, art and Italian architecture for opera enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Debbie said: “Andrew and I were chatting about how wonderful it would be to offer a school trip-style experience to adults. Now, with the growing demand for more experience-led holidays, we felt it was the right time to launch the tours for adults looking for something different.”

She said opera was becoming more accessible and there is more interest in it with more opera and documentaries on opera being shown on television.

She said with growth in the niche experience-led holiday market, it was the right time to launch the business.

Andrew, who has led music tours across Europe and the USA and has knowledge of art and architecture, said: “I have lectured and taught music and art for many years, and when I retired, I wanted to do something that continues my love of music.”

They have worked with independent hotel partners and the organisers of the Puccini Festival at the open-air theatre at Torre del Lago in Lucca, Italy, and the Verdi festival in Parma, Italy, to secure the most sought-after tickets and have developed itineraries including guided walking tours, wine tastings and pre-opera introductory talks.

Debbie, who also has experience running events and tours for the BBC, said they hoped to expand the tours available in future to include Prague, Paris and Budapest.