From her modest beginnings as a singer in English dance halls, Dame Cleo Laine has gone on to achieve international fame by continually expanding her talents in a career which spans some four decades. One of the most celebrated singers of our time, Laine commands a dazzling array of vocal styles, and is the only singer ever to receive Grammy nominations in the Female Jazz, Popular and Classical categories.

During her 8 p.m. performance at the Napa Valley Opera House on Saturday, Laine will be joined by her husband Sir John Dankworth, one of Britain's best-known jazz musicians and composers.

Laine, who was born in a London suburb, began her musical career in the early 1950s in her native England. She showed early singing talent, which was nurtured by her parents who sent her to singing and dancing lessons. It wasn't until her mid-20s, however, that she seriously applied herself to singing and auditioned for the hugely successful British band led by Dankworth. Cleo toured extensively with the band and in 1958, she married Dankworth. Together they have toured the world with sold-out engagements before enthusiastic audiences.

Dankworth's career as a performer, composer and conductor spans almost 50 years. Born in London in 1927, he was brought up in a musical environment amongst a family of musicians. At 16 he studied clarinet at London's Royal Academy of Music. His early career led to a succession of honors and two hit records. His composing career has covered film, theater, ballet and musicals, works for choir and orchestra, symphonic variations, piano and clarinet concerto and string quartet.

The duo live in Buckinghamshire where in 1969 they founded the Wavendon Allmusic Plan, a vision that led to the establishment of the Stables, Wavendon, an internationally renowned arts center. Since the opening of its new building in October 2000, the theatre continues to provide performers, students and audiences alike with a center of musical excellence second to none.

Mozart's birthday bash

The Opera House will celebrate Mozart and his era during a weekend long series of family performances featuring dance, theatre, music and art Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. Performances by Dance Through Time, Classical Kids in Mozart's Magnificent Voyage, and the 13-year-old piano prodigy Peng Peng will be accompanied by an exhibition of portraits and memorabilia thought to be attributed to Mozart and his family. The Happy Birthday Mozart weekend is sponsored by Prospect Creek Foundation and the Napa Valley Register.

Dance Through Time kicks off the Mozart weekend, recreating a baroque salon where guests dance to works by Mozart, Purcell, Lully, Vivaldi and others, accompanied by musicians playing period instruments. Dressed in costumes of the elegant era, Dance Through Time will take the audience on a journey back in time performing the minuet, allemande, contradanse/ballo gigue and cebelle. This historic storytelling-through-dance performance will also feature a portion of Mozart's only ballet "Les Petits Riens." Post performance, the artists will stroll through the Opera House Cafe Theatre while patrons enjoy Viennese pastries, specialty coffees and teas. Dance Through Time performs Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 age 12 and under.

The award-winning Washington, D.C., based company Classical Kids performs in Mozart's Magnificent Voyage on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. The performance is a dramatic adaptation of a story about Mozart and his young son, Karl, who longs to be taken from his boarding school to spend more time with his famous father. The wish is fulfilled when Wolfgang takes him to a performance of "The Magic Flute." Set in 18th-century Vienna, the narrative is accompanied by the 22-piece Golden Gate Chamber Orchestra playing excerpts from more than 20 Mozart compositions. Tickets are $30 adults and $15 age 12 and under.

Born in China, 13-year-old pianist Peng Peng has won numerous competitions, including the Junior Category of the 2005 New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra Competition and the Juilliard School's 2003-04 and 2005-06 Pre-College Mozart Piano Concerto Competitions. A former student of the Shanghai Music Primary School, Peng Peng made his debut at Lincoln Center in 2005 with Itzhak Perlman conducting the Juilliard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra. The piano prodigy's Opera House debut Oct. 1 at 2 p.m., will feature the music of Mozart, Chopin, Brahms and Rachmaninoff. Tickets are $25 adults and $15 age 12 and under.

Open to the public free of charge throughout the celebratory weekend is Mozart's World: A Private Collection of Late 18th Century Art Objects. The unprecedented U.S. premiere exhibition of portraits and memorabilia, thought to be attributed to Mozart and his family, will be displayed in the Opera House Cafe Theatre. Items have been obtained from private international collections and include the U.S. introduction of several new portraits which have been under study by top Mozart scholars. The European debut of these artifacts took place in December 2005 at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The exhibit is open September 29, 7 to 10 p.m.; September 30, noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.; and October 30, 1 to 4 p.m.