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Duchy Opera has built an enviable reputation as one of the country’s finest regional, semi-professional opera companies where a passion for opera is brought alive with imagination and flair.
The company strives to present opera productions of the highest standards possible, whilst fostering education about the art form and encouraging its growth with services and programmes designed to fill the needs of the Cornish community. If you are interested in being part of the county's foremost opera company, please contact us via this site for more details.
The Merry Widow
October 2010
Duchy Opera is proud to present a unique adaptation of Lehar's much-loved operetta, The Merry Widow. Set amidst the celebrations in Maxim’s, a run-down cabaret bar in Berlin, it offers a glimpse of the lives affected by three decades of East and West Berliners being kept apart as the despised Berlin Wall is finally torn down, brick-by- brick, on 9 November 1989.
The historic events of that night are set against a love story that sees two long-separated lovers re-united. Amidst an exuberant gathering of die-hard Bohemian writers, artists and poets, who join together to celebrate love, art, freedom and a new hope for the future of Germany, the lovers find themselves face-to-face with nowhere to hide leading to misunderstandings, recriminations, tenderness and joy.
The Merry Widow has all the familiar tunes which have enchanted audiences across several generations, which have been specially arranged by Paul Drayton, Duchy Opera's Musical Director, who will also conduct the orchestra. The comings and goings of Maxim's will be brought vividly to life in this refreshing updated adaption by the Director, Keith Sparrow, with choreography by Helen Tiplady, one of the Co-Directors of the innovative dance company, C-Scape.
An extraordinary and talented cast includes Rebecca Moon as the newly-widowed Anna, Cheryl Brendish as the vivacious and faithful Natalia, Kieran White as her young admirer Camille, and Philip Cade as Baron Herzog, the wily owner of Maxim’s.
Duchy Opera are committed to producing exciting, innovative opera which will challenge and engage people of all ages and from all walks of life. This unique production of a fun and uplifting story is a perfect place for newcomers to start, as well as a fantastic new way for experienced opera-goers to enjoy an enduring favourite!
Tickets £10, U18s £5.00. Available from Cornish Riviera Box Office
Book online by visting, www.crbo.co.uk or call 01726 879500
DATES:
7 October: EPWORTH HALL, HELSTON
10 October: THE CENTRE, NEWLYN*
12 October: MEMORIAL HALL, PORTSCATHO
13 October: JUBILEE HALL, MEVAGISSEY*
15 October: TOWN HALL, CALLINGTON
16 October: PARKHOUSE CENTRE, BUDE
19 October: BURRELL THEATRE, TRURO
20 October: BURRELL THEATRE, TRURO
All performances start at 7.30pm
* To book tickets for Newlyn, please call 01736 365890
* To book tickets for Mevagissey, please call 01726 842291
*****Events News*****
 As the beautiful spring sunshine thaws the winter cold, Duchy Opera looks forward to this year's performances.
This Easter, the Duchy Opera chorus, together with guest soloists Louise Merrifield, Shirley Tyack and Steven Phillips, will travel to Cyprus to perform in a variety of concerts in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund set against a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty.
In June, Duchy Opera will be special guests at a concert in Truro Cathedral featuring the outstanding Russian soprano, Vera Belova. Duchy Opera's Musical Director, Paul Drayton, will accompany Vera and details of how to obtain tickets for this exciting event will appear shortly.
In October, Duchy will perform a brand new interpretation of Franz Lehar’s much-loved operetta, The Merry Widow. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband – on an 1861 comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) by Henri Meilhac. Travelling the length and breadth of Cornwall, further information regarding venues and tickets will be available later in the year.
Throughout the year, Duchy Opera will be continuing their popular primary school outreach programme, The School Run. Launched last term, Duchy Opera received an unprecedented response from schools requesting them to visit. Designed to educate and engage school children with opera, a small group of singers visit schools where they join in animated talks with the children about music and then hold a singing session of fun songs that the children join in with.
With many further concerts and events being organised this year, including a return to Lanhydrock, a magnificent late Victorian country house with extensive gardens and a wooded estate, following last years wonderful Floralia concert, 2010 is set to be an interesting and exciting year for Duchy Opera.
Further details on all of the above performances will be posted shortly and you can also follow Duchy on their Facebook page for all the latest information.
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