Gilbert and Sullivan were the reigning monarchs of British satire at the latter end of the 19th century and were happy to mock anything that came into their line of fire. In their other Cornish-set classic The Pirates of Penzance, the idleness of the lords and gentry is put under

The world’s most popular Gilbert and Sullivan production “The Pirates of Penzance” premiered in 1879, first at the Bijou Theatre in Paignton before opening in New York. It was an immediate hit and within weeks of opening, touring and amateur performances were being arranged.

  George Lloyd’s first opera was inspired by The Nine Maidens standing stones near St Columb Major, and tells the story of one of the Maidens who comes back to life as a fairy. First performed in 1934 at the Pavilion in Penzance. It was recorded in 1985 by the