Duchy Opera was formed in the winter of 1976/77 by a small group of musicians and singers who brought together their talents and enthusiasm to stage an opera.
Its first venture was Mozart’s the Marriage of Figaro performed in Falmouth during the summer of 1977. The success of this production led to the formal establishment of Duchy Opera.
Duchy Opera’s objective is to perform opera at a standard which is comparable to that of the major national touring companies and in so doing to enable a wider public to enjoy this most complex art form.
It also aims to involve young people and to encourage young singers in the West Country who wish to gain experience on the operatic stage.
Past Productions
1977 The Marriage of Figaro
1978 Rigoletto
1979 The Merry Wives of Windsor
1980 The Magic Flute
1981 Eugene Onegin
1983 Amahl and the Night Visitors concert version
1984 Carmen
1985 The Red Sea / The Beggar’s Opera
1986 The Pearl Fishers concert version
1986 Excelsior
1987 Quest for the Hidden Moon / The Magic Flute
An amusing advertisement from the programme
1988 Die Fledermaus
1989 Cafe Puccini / Eugene Onegin
1990 La Boheme
1991 Don Giovanni
1992 Carmen / The Tales of Hoffman
1993 Cavalleria Rusticana / I Pagliacci
1994 L’Elisir d’Amore
1995 La Cenerentola / The Merry Widow / Altogether Now & Old Time Music Hall concert Portugal
1996 Faust / Altogether Now & Old Time Music Hall concert Portugal
1997 Cosi Fan Tutte / The Yeomen of the Guard
1998 Die Fledermaus
1999 The Marriage of Figaro / Carmen
2000 Hansel and Gretel / La Traviata
2001 Orpheus in the Underworld / Trial by Jury / La Boheme
2002 25th Anniversary Concert / The Bartered Bride
2003 Don Giovanni / Great Operatic Favourites / Viennese Gala / The Magic Flute
2004 Madame Butterfly / Parisian Gala / Songs, Swing and Serendipity
2005 A Masked Ball / Russian Gala
2006 The Wreckers
2007 Tosca
2008 Semele
2009 The Hanging Oak
2010 In Concert Portugal (in aid of The Soldiers Charity) / The Merry Widow
2011 The Vampire
2012 Carmen / The Mermaid of Zennor
2013 The Mermaid of Zennor / Baron Herzog’s Box of Operatic Delights
2014 Dearest Papa / A Rough Guide to Opera / The Elixir of Love
2015 One Fine Day (music of Puccini) / Die Fledermaus / Summer Serenade
2016 One Fine Day / Die Fledermaus
2017 La Traviata
2018 40th Anniversary Concert / The Merry Wives of Windsor / Duchy Opera Presents…
2019 Macbeth
2020 Duchy Opera Favourites… concert
2022 The Gondoliers / The King of Barataria
More information can be found on this website: https://www.duchyopera.co.uk/education.html
More information about Duchy Opera, its members and the operas can be found on the programmes deposited with Kresen Kernow.
We would like to include all programme images here and copies of those not appearing will be much appreciated.