Category: - DUCHY OPERA

One Fine Day in Exeter

6/6/2016

Excited that we'll be at Exeter Northcott on Sunday for "One Fine Day": the life & music of Puccini.

Did he really say “The three greatest loves in my life have been women, duck-shooting, and a good libretto”?

We have a star studded line-up headed up by our President John Nettles (narrator), tenor David Webb, soprano Cheryl Brendish, John Hobbs and soloists, chorus and orchestra of Duchy Opera. Here is your second chance to see this show without the rain!

Three days to go to "One Fine Day"

30/4/2015

One Fine Day on Monday 4th May at the Minack. Don't miss it!
8pm

Soloists include:
John Treleaven
John Hobbs
Cheryl Brendish
Ben Hoadley
Kay Deeming
Lucy Parsons
Ian Kinver
Hannah Pascoe
The Duchy Opera Chorus
Cornish Orchestra
Conducted by Paul Drayton
Narrated by John Nettles

Puccini Puccini

13/4/2015

Great rehearsal at Duchy last night for the May 4th Minack concert. Soloists were in good form, chorus sounded glorious and conductor Paul seemed quite pleased! Nice to have Anthony Trodd on piano - can't wait to hear the full orchestra as well.

Minack - here we come!

Long-awaited Gala concert

13/4/2015

"A Night at the Operas" Sat 23 May.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY THE ORGANISERS

Do you remember James Robertson?

28/3/2015

James Robertson sang the role of Dulcamara in the 1994 Duchy Opera production of L'Elisir d'amore and we have recently (Nov. 2014) had contact with him. He was a very heavy smoker in his younger days until one day while visiting a farmer (James sold seed) he left his car at the end of the long farm drive and unfortunately while inside the house the rains started so that the walk back left him rather wet. Once back in the car he needed a cigarette, only to find he had left them with his lighter, on the farm table. The prospect of another walk in the rain was too much and James gave up smoking, but, by then, the damage was done.
He retired to Scotland and in Jan. 2012 was diagnosed with lung cancer and in April 2012 had a pulmonary lobectomy. James was one of the lucky 9% to survive and as a thank you to Macmillan Cancer support and research generally, he celebrated his 80th birthday by climbing Schiehallion (3,600 ft) in Scotland. He had been attending exercise programmes at Dundee University's Institute of Sports and Exercise in preparation and because he had made such a good recovery made headlines in the local press and appeared in a video and on Scottish Television News. Says that never happened when he was a singer!
We thought those of you who remember James would like to hear of his success.

John and Margaret Hobbs.

Dearest Papa Dress rehearsal last Sunday

13/3/2014

There's still time to get tickets for Saturday's Dearest Papa, but hurry (just 14 places left at the Alverton). Prideaux is sold out. Tickets are available for the Headland Hotel Newquay on Sunday 30th March. John Nettles says that the music is the main attraction!! Dress Rehearsal below.

Little-known stories #2

11/11/2013

Ever wondered whether you are a tenor or a bass? A soprano or a contralto?

Whilst at Solihull School, where he received his education and sang in the school choir, John Hobbs (BARITONE)
moved through the choral ranks from treble to bass, via alto, omitting the tenor line, only to be told later that it was
the tenor spectrum that he should have alighted upon!

Little-known stories #1

11/11/2013

The night before moving from Warwickshire in the 1960's, John Hobbs (long-established Duchy Opera soloist and honorary member) had his first professional singing engagement with the Birmingham Insurance Choir in Birmingham Cathedral , singing the bass solo in Mozart's 'Requiem' for the princely sum of 4gns.

The fact that the treasurer, a Mr Norman King, promised to forward the cheque to the new address in Devon, and it NEVER CAME, has been a source of much speculation as to what 4gns + compound interest would be worth today, and, should his successor read this missive, John is certain that the matter could be resolved amicably by a sum with several 00 on the end!