Merry Widow Auditions
Truro High School for Girls, Truro
Saturday 8 May

In October 2010, Duchy Opera will be performing a brand new version of Franz Lehar's classic operetta, The Merry Widow, directed by Keith Sparrow. This lively and exciting production will tour Cornwall and perform in a number of venues throughout the first two weeks of October.

Auditions for the principal roles will be held on Saturday 8 May at Truro High School for Girls, Kensey Building, Daniell Road, Truro.

To receive further information and to book an audition time, please contact Naomi Carne on 01872 275507 or email jnj@carnage.go-plus.net

Applicants will be provided with copies of audition pieces and a short passage of dialogue, which they will be asked to read.

It is the policy of Duchy Opera to always cast productions from inside Cornwall in the first instance. If there are any roles that remain unfilled however, the Company will then consider singers from outside the county.

Duchy Opera tours Cyprus
Wednesday 7 - Thursday 15 April

Duchy Opera will be touring Cyprus in April performing three concerts in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund.

Soloists, Sue Lancaster, Louise Merrifield, Steve Phillips and Shirley Tyack will be joined by members of the chorus to perform an eclectic mix of popular opera along with a variety of lighter music arranged by Duchy Opera's Musical Director, Paul Drayton.

The first performance takes place on Friday 9 April in the Markideon Theatre in Paphos. Their second performance takes place in the beautiful Pissori Ampitheatre, perched on the edge of a mountain with stunning views of Pissouri Bay in the distance on Friday 10 April and they perform their final concert at the five-star Atlantic Bay Hotel and Resort at Limassol on Monday 12 April.

Floralia Concert
Lanhydrock Church, Near Bodmin
Monday 3 May
7.30pm

You are warmly invited to join some of Duchy Opera's soloists including, Naomi Johnston (Soprano), Sue Lancaster (Alto), Tim Carleston (Counter Tenor), Nick Hawker (Tenor) and Philip Cade (Baritone) with special guests, Confitemini - a quartet of accomplished local singers - in a celebration of spring in aria and song, set in the beautiful surroundings and church of St Hydrock at the National Trusts, Lanhydrock House. 

Lanhydrock House is a magnificent late Victorian country house with extensive servant's quarters, gardens and wooded estate.  The garden is resplendent with a splendid collection of magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons with numerous paths taking you down to the River Fowey, the haunt of otters and kingfishers.

Free entry to the garden from 6pm. Concert begins 7.30pm.

Tickets: £12 (Friends of Duchy Opera, £10) available from 01872 573624 or 01237 451300 or on the door.

Parking in NT car park or to the right of the house near the church.

Precious Lives Appeal Concert
Truro Cathedral, Truro
Saturday 5 June

Duchy Opera have been invited to join outstanding Russian soprano, Vera Boleva, in a concert of popular opera, Russian folk songs and light music in aid of the Precious Lives Appeal (Children's Hospice South West) in the beautiful Truro Cathedral.

Please check back for ticket information.

Sarah Kettner Masterclass
Polwhele House
Saturday 17 July
9am-6pm

Zimbabwean-born soprano, Sarah Kettner DR, BA, MA, MA, L.R.S.M. will be coaching 10 singers of Grade 8 standard and above in the Classical Repertoire.

For further information, please contact Naomi Carne on 01872 275507 or email jnj@carnage.go-plus.net

Sarah began her studies with London-trained Lorna Kelly, winning National Competitions enabling her to study further at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa with Dame Joyce Baker. Sarah has continued her studies with Gita Denise (London), Emma Renzi (La Scala), Carla Pohl (Dusseldorf) and more recently with Kammersangerin Sona Ghazarian (Vienna).

Whilst completing her Masters in Performance at Graz University of Performing Arts, Sarah worked with Professor Gerhardt and Annemarie Zeller.

Sarah has performed with Classic Fm Tournee, PACT Opera, Salon Music Company and the JPO Orchestra and Salon 5 Orchestra in Johannesburg.

Sarah teaches full-time at the Art & Music Schools of Leoben and Mautern and is the Choral Director of the Montan University Choir in Austria.

Duchy Opera performs the Last Night of the Proms with Camborne Town Band
Hall for Cornwall
Thursday 16 September

Soloist, Cheryl Brendish will join Duchy Opera and Camborne Town Band in a rousing Last Night of the Proms at the Hall for Cornwall.

The traditional closing anthems of Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory will require a frenzy of flag waving, kazoo blowing and bobbing from the crowd with lusty singing with full Cornish energy.

Cheryl is no stranger to the pomp and circumstance of the proms, as she is the guest soloist in the Last Night of the Proms at the breath-taking Minack Theatre with the Mount Charles Band each year and will be joining Duchy Opera to make it an evening of fun and fireworks.

Please check back for further information.