Duchy Opera at the Minack

Baron Herzog's Box of Operatic Delights



Join the irascible and indefatigable Baron as he hosts an evening of sparkling operatic delights from Cornwall's world famous Minack Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno.

A light-hearted introduction to the wonderful world of opera, brought to you by the man once described as the most wanted in Europe, accompanied by a choice selection of soloists together with the heroic chorus of Duchy Opera and the magical piano of Mr Paul Drayton.

Tickets are £9.50, on sale from Monday March 5th on 01736 810181
or at the Minack website at www.minack.com

The Mermaid of Zennor

A brand new chamber opera for children and adults
of all ages



This Summer, Duchy Opera present a beautiful new opera composed by Paul Drayton with words by Keith Sparrow, based on the famous Cornish legend of the Mermaid of Zennor.

The Mermaid has been inspired by the overwhelming response generated by Duchy Opera's primary school outreach programme, the School Run. It will involve groups of children from 9 primary schools in Cornwall, from Bude to Newlyn, and will feature a series of workshops with singing and movement, culminating in performances at least three venues across the region, with three schools taking part in each performance. It tells the story of Morveren the mermaid, who is captivated by the wonderful singing of Mathew Trewhela, a young fisherman of Zennor. Will she disobey her father, Llyr, the King of the Sea, and seek out the creature that makes such a captivating sound...and will Mathew ignore his mother's pleas and follow the object of his heart into the depths of the sea? With an engaging and captivating score, the Mermaid is sure to appeal to children of all ages, together with adults and people who are new to the world of opera.

Running time 50mins

Performance dates
June 29th Bude, Parkhouse Centre
July 4th Newlyn, The Centre
July 12th Truro Cathedral

Tickets on sale from March, Details to follow.

Schools involved in The Mermaid of Zennor:
Bude School
Pensilva School
Tintagel School
Mevagissey School
Mylor Bridge School
Trewirgie School (Redruth)
Nancledra School
Hayle, Penpol School
Newlyn School

The Mermaid of Zennor is supported by

If you are interested in sponsoring this production or any of Duchy Opera's activities, please email duchy@duchyopera.co.uk

Alternatively, why not become a Friend of Duchy Opera and support us in our efforts to bring new and exciting opera and operetta productions to the people of Cornwall? See our FODO page for more details.

2011 Heinrich Marschner's The Vampire

The Vampire Reviews

Vampire Review - Eric Dare, January 2012 issue of Opera Magazine

Duchy Opera at the Burrell Theatre, Truro, October 25

Yet again Duchy Opera has given Cornwall something refreshingly new – remember its 2006 centenary production of The Wreckers? With the innovative Keith Sparrow, who updated The Merry Widow last season, we were assured of an entertaining evening with Heinrich Marschner’s The Vampire.

In this Faustian gothic plot, the Earl of Marsden in his alter ego, Ruthven, is condemned to kill (‘bite’) three maidens. After he has killed his first victim, Janthe, his friend Aubry discovers Marsden’s true nature but is sworn to secrecy; they become rivals for the hand of Malwina, but her father, Davenaut favours the Earl. At a village wedding, the Vampire seduces another girl and kills her prior to his own wedding. At the last moment, Aubry, ignoring his vow, unmasks Marsden as the Vampire – who is dragged to hell by demons, while Aubry wins his love.

The company recruited a fine group of singing actors.  Philip Cade was a superb Vampire; David Webb a convincing hero for Malwina (Elinor Chapman). Their duets in both acts were among the musical highlights. John Beazley as Malwina’s father added the necessary gravitas both in manner and voice; while Phillippa Lusty took the roles of the two victims, Janthe and, on the second occasion, Emmy, who was plausibly seduced to the despair of her fiancé, George (played by the director himself, Keith Sparrow).

The libretto was rewritten by Sparrow and the music director; as Sparrow pointed out in his splendidly produced programme, it was an actual vampire hunt in Glasgow’s Gorbals in 1954 that inspired his setting of the opera - a simple but adequate design for touring. It inevitably brought us close to the performers, though it might have gained in atmosphere had we been more remote.

Marschener, Germany’s leading operatic composer when he wrote this once-popular work in 1828, obliged with a number of enjoyable ensembles and plenty for the impressive chorus. A pity we had to do without strings – well suited to creating ghostly atmosphere - but the five-piece orchestra, scored and conducted by the company’s music director Paul Drayton, provided adequate support for the singers.

Eric Dare

Vampire Review - Lee Trewhela, The West Briton

'Bloody Good Opera'

THIS season's production couldn't be more different than last year's frothy, fun version of Lehar's The Merry Widow.

Therein lies the success of Duchy Opera – a company which refuses to rest on its laurels, is eager to experiment and keen to attract a new audience to the world of opera.

Barring a little too much scene-setting smoke, which set off Truro School's fire alarms ten minutes into the show causing an evacuation, this was a stark production with the look of a camp 1920s silent horror film.

Keith Sparrow is a bit like Little Britain's Dennis Waterman who "wrote the theme toon, sang the theme toon". A jack of all trades, Keith directed, designed, put together the impressive programme and even appeared as a husband-to-be who loses his bride to the vampire and, if that wasn't enough, he was one of the demons too.

He certainly brings something new to what could be argued is a staid and old-fashioned musical form. Who's seen an opera that begins with an animated Vampire Master laughing manically from above?

The story, in short, sees Ruthven the Vampire being given 24 hours, by said cartoon ghoul, to slay three young brides in 1950s' Gorbals (updated from the original German setting of 1828) in order to gain one more year of living. Philip Cade occupied this role with relish; calm and calculating when charming his victims, exploding in fury when his plans are thwarted – and what a voice.

The standout for me was Cornish singing star-in-waiting Phillippa Lusty, innocent and demure as Ruthven's (or the Earl of Marsden in his other guise) first victim Janthe and then living up to her surname as sultry Emmy, murdered on her wedding day. Alluring and with a beautiful soprano voice, one wishes Phillippa well with her singing career in London.

The charm and humour in the work, which musically isn't that memorable, came from the delightful chorus. Though their accents wavered so much it was hard to tell whether this was Glasgow, Giggleswick or Golant.

Elinor Chapman, with a voice so powerful it could possibly shatter glass, played Malwina, saved from being Ruthven's third victim by her true love, Edgar Aubry (David Webb). David deserved a medal for battling on after a nasty cough threatened to derail his delightful tenor – thankfully the vocal cords won.

The other winners were musical director Paul Drayton – does this man ever stop working? – and musicians Sarah Hanley, Jess Robinson, Jacqueline Kershaw, Naomi Johnston and Anthony Trodd, who brought the fairly light score to life.

Duchy Opera managed to take a bite out of a little-known work and instead of killing it off, breathed new life into it.

NEW CHORUS MEMBERS WANTED

Duchy Opera are looking for new chorus members to join us this year to work towards a busy programme of events this year. As well as the Mermaid of Zennor there is a main production planned for later this year as well as concerts and fundraising events.

If you are interested in performing new and exciting opera productions and concerts with us, why not come along to a Sunday night rehearsal in January?

The Chorus of Duchy Opera rehearse regularly between 7-9pm at Tresillian Village Hall, just outside Truro. New members of all ages are always welcome and may be subject at some point to an informal audition with Paul Drayton. This is to enable him to get an idea of individual voices and strengths. Reading music is useful but not essential, but an enthusiastic and focussed approach to learning is a must! We are particularly keen to work with young and developing talents to bring on the next generation of opera stars.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Duchy Opera have a busy and active educational programme, and we are looking for University and College level students who are interested in youth and school work, who may want to get involved in our successful School Run outreach team. If this sounds like you, please email education@duchyopera.co.uk for further details.

We also welcome contact from students interested in behind-the-scenes creative roles, such as costume and set design, photography etc. Last year we worked with a UCF photography student David Maynard and Tremough dance student Meghan Carney, and this year we have another UCF graduate, Ami Grinstead working with us on costume.

Opera productions offer a wealth of opportunities for students to gain experience in the performing arts, so please feel free to contact us for further information.