Duchy Opera receives no government or official funding to help offset the cost of productions, relying heavily on ticket sales, fundraising and the generous and tireless support from the Friends Of Duchy Opera. These contributions, in what is a challenging and increasingly costly field of activity, enable us to keep opera accessible to local audiences and the wider community and make it possible for emerging young artists to develop their skills and provide a platform
to perform.

“Duchy Opera lived up to its reputation as one of the country’s best semi-professional opera companies by putting on one of its finest performances with The Merry Widow.” Alan Cooper - Cornish Guardian (October 2010)

“A company refusing to rest on its laurels, eager to experiment and keen to attract a new audience to the world of opera. Managing to take a bite out of the little-known Heinrich Marschner’s German opera The Vampire, instead of killing it off, Duchy Opera breathed new life into it.” Lee Trewhela - The West Briton (October 2011)

“Just to say how wonderful The Vampire was! Saturday was an EVENT and the OPERA was fantastic. The music interesting and beautifully played, the singing superb, a most enjoyable production - THANK YOU to all.” 2011

We seek to broaden our sources of funding in order to ensure a firmer financial future enabling the company to continue to provide high quality live performances of opera and to overcome unexpected reductions in income. In addition to general funding, supporters can request to sponsor specific aspects of our productions – orchestra, soloists, costumes,
etc. Companies could also have their logo placed on our publicity material and website, as well as credits in press releases and programme.

"La Traviata is given thoroughly traditional treatment under the sure direction of Penzance’s own Richard Jackson. Accustomed to consistent high-quality, with a fine orchestra and lively chorus of 22, this is no exception. Duchy Opera goes from strength to strength; we should be very proud of them all.” Eric Dare – Cornish Guardian 2017

“A huge thank you to Duchy Opera for making me so welcome over the past four years and for giving me such amazing and valuable opportunities as a young singer which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I will miss it very much when I move to London in September. The Minack week was a fantastic end to my time with you and thanks to everyone who made it so brilliant!” Rebekah Scamp – 19-year-old local young soloist played Flora – La Traviata 2017

If you would like to be a vital part of enabling this work, please find out more about our bespoke sponsorship packages by contacting Andrew Lancaster on 01872 275057 or andy.lancaster@live.co.uk or send us a message on this page: https://www.duchyopera.co.uk/contact.html

VERDI TOOK 30-plus curtain calls at the 1847 Florence premiere of Macbeth.

It's easy to see why.

Events cascade with lightning speed.
Macbeth and his lady understand each other instinctively.
They evince few qualms.
Carnage flows as night follows day: "What's done is done."

Later, as the pace eases, the psychology intensifies, climaxing in the magnificent sleepwalking scene and Macbeth's soured realisation that what awaits him is revilement and oblivion.
It is the exiles, lamenting their "wretched country" who will restore the light.
(Roderic Dunneti)

Verdi's Macbeth
​will be performed by Duchy Opera at the Minack open air Theatre, week beginning July 8th.
Seven performances, including matinees on Tuesday and Thursday.
​Tickets are now on sale from the Minack box office:
https://www.minack.com/verdis-macbeth/
01736 810181

BBC Singers in Good Friday musicAfternoon Concert
James Weeks conducts the BBC Singers in a programme featuring his own work for choir and narrator, Orlando Tenebrae, as part of repertoire linked to Good Friday. The programme continues with two pieces inspired by Good Friday, with the BBC Singers performing first Kenneth Leighton's Crucifixus Pro Nobis and then, Paul Drayton's The Passion of Christ as told by Mark the Evangelist.

2.00pm
Tomás Luis de Victoria: Three Tenebrae Responsories
Ecce quomodo moritur iustus
Aestimatus sum
O vos omnes

James Weeks: Orlando Tenebrae (with narrator)

Heinrich Schütz:
Quid commisisti, o puer SWV56
Die mit Tränen saen, SWV378
Die mit Tränen saen, SWV42

Kenneth Leighton: Crucifixus Pro Nobis

Paul Drayton: The Passion of Christ as told by Mark the Evangelist
Jesus: Andrew Rupp - baritone
High Priest & Pilate: Jamie W. Hall - bass
Narrator: Olivia Robinson – soprano
Peter: Stephen Jeffes – tenor
BBC Singers
Marin Andre – conductor
Ends at 4.10pm

The Company past and present will be giving Paul a 'send-off' on Sunday  January 13th at 7 - 8pm. Please contact us if you would like to join us. 

Chairman Andrew Lancaster pays tribute to Paul Drayton at his Farewell Concert (Mevagissey)


This concert marks the end of an era for Duchy Opera: 14 years of musical leadership from one of the most prodigious talents of his generation.
Paul Drayton has been at the helm of the company in almost every sense, as musical director, composer, libretto translator, chorus master and pianist for innumerable concerts.
During these years he conducted A Masked Ball, The Wreckers, Tosca, Semele, The Vampire, The Merry Widow, Carmen, Die Fledermaus, his own opera The Hanging Oak, La Traviata and The Merry Wives of Windsor, at venues including village halls, schools, community centres, theatres such as the Northcott Exeter, the Wharf Tavistock and the Hall for Cornwall, and of course at the Minack.
He has directed, programmed and played for our concerts and shows in a vast range of venues, from country houses to Heartlands, from Mevagissey Jubilee Hall to the Tresanton Hotel St Mawes, and almost all points in between.
A keen educationalist, he has been at the forefront of Duchy's initiative The School Run, taking opera to Cornish Primary and Secondary schools, and wrote and directed The Mermaid of Zennor incorporating 270 Primary school children plus the company into a touring production.
As if this were not enough, these years have seen his work performed by choirs from Cornwall to Sweden, commissions from The Three Choirs Festival, Dame Gillian Weir, the cathedrals of Washington DC and Kansas Missouri, 
and the Kings Singers.
And all of this has been done with great humour, tact, insight and energy…. Paul, it has been a privilege to be associated with you.