Silvia Colloca on song at Opera in the Alps, singing before her supper

The mezzo-soprano is equally adept in the kitchen, with a television cooking career spanning almost a decade.

"I keep dipping my toes into both," she said, more than a little, humbly.

"But I'm formally trained in singing and performing so it's great to be doing more of that."

Well-known to SBS viewers for Made in Italy and Cook Like An Italian, Colloca will perform at her first Opera in the Alps at Beechworth this weekend.

The debut Opera Feast, which will be a four-course meal prepared by Beechworth chef Sally Lynch, complements the program with two of Colloca's recipes in the mix.

While Colloca will mingle with guests at the feast, she said she would need to be mindful of her upcoming performance.

"Singing an opera is like running a marathon," Colloca said.

"I'll have something to eat earlier for optimal energy and digestion; maybe supper and a glass of wine after the show."

With Italy in lockdown due to the coronavirus, Colloca said her hometown Milan was first hit with the restrictions.

"It's terrifying to be honest," she said.

"But my family is well. My dad is even joking they will die from boredom before the coronavirus.

"They can't even go out to a bar to get an espresso!"

Silvia Colloca

The 24th annual Opera in the Alps also features baritone Sam Dundas and international didgeridoo player William Barton.

They will be joined on stage by aspiring young singers from Opera Scholars Australia and the full Symphony Australis orchestra, together presenting a packed program of favourite opera and musical highlights under the stars.

Opera in the Alps attracts more than 2500 visitors to the North East, making it more important than ever in helping bring tourists back to the region post-bushfires.

Opera in the Alps founders and directors Graeme Wall and Margot Cory-Wall said that after enjoying the unwavering support of the North East, its people and communities for many years, it felt good to now be returning some of that goodwill.

"North East Victoria is our second home; the first Opera in the Alps was held in 1996 at the historic Mount Buffalo Chalet and since then every year at Beechworth," Ms Cory-Wall said.