Friends of Duchy Opera
Like many regional arts groups today, Duchy Opera receives no official funding to help offset the cost of productions, and relies on fund-raising efforts together with very generous support from the Friends Of Duchy Opera (FODO) members. FODO hold activities and raise funds independently of the Company. Their invaluable contributions enable the Company to continue in what is an increasingly costly and challenging field of activity. You are encouraged to support their activities. Friends receive the following benefits:
Join NOW! Annual subscription - £20.00 per person Joint subscription - £35.00 per couple When submitting this form you can be assured that your personal details
will not be passed on to a third party. |
Future Events
Our next FODO concert.
Our next Friends concert will be held on Friday 22nd November 2024 at a private house in Perranwell Station at lunchtime. We are delighted to tell you that our friends John Hobbs and Cheryl Brendish will be our guest soloists. Full details will follow shortly. Our summer concert will be held at Boconnoc on Tuesday 17th June 2025. Please put this date in your diary. We had a great time there this year and so expectations are high and places will be in great demand. |
Past Events
Medical Maelstrom Christmas Sat 8th Dec 2022
at Killigarth House Devoran Lavish buffet lunch at 1.30pm and entertainment at 3.00pm A fabulous musical event presented by "Medical Maelstrom"- 3 doctors who happen to be also rather good at music!! A cabaret-style afternoon of song laced with a strong dose of humour. If laughter is the 'best medicine' then we absolutely wallowed in it. Michelle Sharkey Anthony Seddon Sam Freegard |
Can't Help Singing! Saturday 15th Oct 2022
at the home of Anthony & Sarah Seddon An afternoon concert with delightful music from Rebecca Dale, Louis Dutton and Anthony Seddon to accompany a scrumptious cream tea. A completely Cornish melange of musicians! Rebecca and Louis were both prominent in Duchy Opera Company’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers at Princess Pavilion, Falmouth in June and Park House, Truro in July. Their programme with Anthony will be a complete surprise to us all. |
Music at Bosvathick Saturday 28th Sept 2019
Bosvathick House, Constantine Mr and Mrs Stephen Tyrrell have very kindly offered the Friends of Duchy Opera the use of their reception rooms and garden at Bosvathick House, Constantine, on Saturday 28th September. Our audience may wander in the extensive and unusual garden from 3.30pm before canapés and bubbles at 5.00pm. Two long-standing members of Duchy Opera Company, Kay Deeming and Sue Lancaster, will delight us forty-five minutes later with a varied programme of solos and duets. |
Love is in the Air Thursday 14th Feb 2019
at Falmouth Art Gallery A special Valentine’s Day recital of familiar arias, songs and duets with the lovely voice of Elinor Chapman, the heroine in Duchy’s colourful production of The Elixir of Love in 2014 and at Prideaux Place last Spring and the rich baritone of Ian Kinver. The versatility and exuberance of Anthony Seddon will be in evidence on the piano! There will be an opportunity to view the Gallery, with a glass of wine, at 6.15pm until the concert at 6.45pm. |
50 minute Magic Flute Friday 22nd Sep 2017
St Michael's Church, Newquay Truro School's Music Director Martin Palmer will bring a 22-piece orchestra and soloists drawn from present sixth form pupils, past pupils about to go to university and choral scholars from the Cathedral – people well beyond their Grade 8s and looking to make music their careers. We are promised a concert of music, followed by an interval (with a glass of wine – or tea/coffee) and then the School’s 50-minute version of The Magic Flute! |
Floralia May 24th 2014
A celebration of Flowers and Spring in aria and song, set in the beautiful surroundings and church of St Hydroc at the National Trust's Lanhydrock House. Evie Hidderley (soprano) Alice Margetts (soprano) Rachael Sadka (soprano) David Risberg (baritone) George Clark (baritone) Westenders Cello Quartet: Danielle Jones Ben Hoadley Rebecca McGlade Elizabeth Brazier |
Presentation of new keyboard
The Duchy Opera Company's AGM on 26th May 2013 was the occasion for the exciting presentation of a new portable piano. It was a gift from FODO who never cease to amaze us with their generosity. Touring opera will now be greatly facilitated, and those who recently carted a heavy piano down AND up the Minack steps will be breathing a great sigh of relief. Thank you to Linda Petzing for her photos. |
FODO Christmas Party Concerts 2012/2013
with tasty canapés and wine, held at Benallack Barn, the beautiful home of Linda and Paul Wieczorek, decorated for Christmas. 2012: Cheryl Rosevear ( BBC’s 1997 Choir Girl of the Year) and Shelley Coulter-Smith (oratorio and opera singer throughout England) were our guest singers. Pianist Anthony Seddon arranged the evening’s entertainment, joined by Sam Freegard (both MD’s of Medical Maelstrom fame) for seasonal readings. A real treat! 2013: we were entertained with Christmas music by Naomi Johnston and her husband, Jonathan Carne. |