Floralia - Saturday 23 May
You are warmly invited to join some of Duchy Opera's soloists including, Melanie Hoadley (Soprano), Naomi Johnston (Soprano), Sue Lancaster (Alto), Tim Carleston (Counter Tenor), Nick Hawker (Tenor) and John Hobbs (Baritone) with special guests, Daniel Hoadley and Confitemini - a quartet of accomplished local singers - in a celebration of flowers and 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.

Wine reception on the formal lawns from 6.45pm.
Parking in NT car park or to the right of the house near the church.

Medical Maelstrom - Friday 19 June
Duchy Opera presents Medical Maelstrom at Werrington Park, Nr Launceston

A magical evening of song and lighthearted entertainment awaits you with the three doctors: Michele Sharkey, Sam Freegard and Anthony Seddon.

Michele Sharkey was born in Lanarkshire and began  vocal training after completing her medical studies at the University of Glasgow. Her main interest is opera, and major roles range from the consumptive Mimi (La Bohème) to the dagger wielding Queen of the Night (Magic Flute) with Angelica (Suor Angelica), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Frasquita (Carmen), Olympia (Tales of Hoffman), Anna (Merry Widow), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) and Adele (Die Fledermaus) in between. Her favourite gigs however are with Maelstrom, despite the massive strain of keeping the rampant egos of the chaps under control……...! Michele is a GP in St Ives.

Sam Freegard’s enjoyment of being silly on stage developed whilst studying medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. After moving to Cornwall in 1982, he acted for many years with the West Cornwall Theatre Group at the Minack theatre, including the title role in Macbeth, Leontes in The Winter’s Tale, Touchstone in As You Like It, Randle P McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  Sam sincerely hopes that his presence here tonight with Michele and Anthony does not spoil what might otherwise have been high class entertainment…..! Sam is a GP who works in St Ives.

Anthony Seddon was a chorister at King’s College Cambridge. He then obtained a music scholarship to Clifton College Bristol and from there was awarded a choral scholarship to Magdalen College Oxford where he studied medicine. He has been musical director for Duchy Opera’s productions of Café Puccini and La Cenerentola and as an accompanist he has played at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Savoy Hotel and the Crush Room at Covent Garden all of which he survived with rather more equanimity than he sometimes used to manage during a busy Monday on call at the Penryn surgery!

Courtesy of Mr and Mrs Michael Williams, the beautiful gardens of Werrington Park will be open from 6.00pm for you to stroll through with supper served at 6.30pm and the concert beginning at 7.45pm.

Tickets: £27 (Friends of Duchy Opera, £22) available from 01237 451300 or write to: Mrs M Hobbs. Braddon's Farm, Buckland Brewer, Bideford, Devon. EX39 5ND

The Hanging Oak - October 2009
A chamber opera in two acts
Words and music by Paul Drayton
Adapted from a short story by M. R. James

All Saints Church, Falmouth - October 7 2009 
St Petroc's Church, Bodmin - October 9 2009
St Eustacia Church, Tavistock - October 10 2009

A thrilling ghost story adapted from a short story by M. R. James and designed to be performed in the wonderfully atmospheric old cornish churches - it is a tale of greed, of devotion, of blackmail and the frailty of mans sense of worth.

Written for four principal soloists and a small chorus, the work also includes a small instrumental ensemble of eight players.  This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and hear a brand new work conducted by the composer in its original setting and performed by the original cast.