Singers get ready for "vocal fun"

3:42pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

Local singers have a chance to participate in professional opera this week, as Opera Playhouse return to Tregwynt Mansion with their production of Purcell's Fairy Queen.

Following the success of last year's Magic Flute the company, which specialises in intimate, unusual and highly theatrical projects, returns to take part in Fishguard Arts Society's Arts Fest.

The Fairy Queen is an operatic masque based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and written in 1692 by one of Britain's greatest composers, Henry Purcell.

It includes some of Purcell's most melodic and beautiful theatre music and will present a cast of young up-and-coming professional principals.

Opera Playhouse has been asked to perform The Fairy Queen at Hampton Court and Kensington Palace in 2009. Pembrokeshire people have the chance to see it first in the beautiful acoustic setting of the Ballroom at Tregwynt Mansion.

One of the highlight's of last year's performance was the participation of local singers in the chorus.

Again the company is inviting local singers of any ability to come along to the rehearsals which start tonight and take part.

"We will teach you the tuneful choruses in just a couple of rehearsals during the week," they promise. "Come along and have some local vocal fun!"

Performances of The Fairy Queen are on Friday, July 11th at 6.30pm with gates open for picnics at 5pm.

On Saturday, July 12th there is a concert of operatic favourites at 3.30pm picnics at 5.00pm and a performance of The Fairy Queen at 6.30pm.

For more information call 01291 621 276 or see www.operaplayhouse.com or www.fishguardartssociety.org.uk.

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