Somerset Opera - July 2021 Newsletter

July 2021 Newsletter

Mon, 5 Jul 2021
Printable version

Greetings to everyone and I hope you are keeping well.

Well, things are moving towards us being able to perform again! We hope to start rehearsals for Trial by Jury and Opera highlights on September 7^th with performances at Taunton United Reformed Church from November 5^th to 7^th. Hilary Marshall, David Hedges and Chris Ball have produced a detailed schedule which will be sent as a separate document. The only reason I say ‘hope’ is that the government guidelines that came out on May 17^th currently don’t allow for more than 6 people to sing indoors in England although more are permitted in other parts of the UK. We await the revised guidance when national restrictions are lifted and in the meantime are working with Making Music and other bodies to ensure that our voices are heard in this matter.

I also mentioned last time that we were actively looking for an alternative rehearsal venue. I’m now able to tell you that we will be using Vivary Park Golf Club for our rehearsals in the future. John Fisher is an active member there and he has arranged its use for us. We will have the club to ourselves in the evening and be able to store any kit and our keyboard there. The club manager has also agreed to open the bar for us so that anyone can have a hot or cold drink throughout the evening. This will allow us to enjoy some social time together which has not been possible to date. Ample free parking is available in Fons George car park and there is a well-lit path from the car park to club (about 2 minutes’ walk). I hope that you will enjoy our new facility.

We had our AGM in January at which we elected a new treasurer to take over from Lindsay Thorne. I’m pleased to say that Lance Moir has agreed to take on the role and is in the process of having a handover from Lindsay (ongoing due to lockdown reasons). I am very grateful for all of the work that Lindsay has done here and am pleased that she has agreed to stay on the committee for at least another year. Thank you to Lindsay and welcome to Lance. I’m also delighted to be able to tell you that Sam Baker has agreed to be seconded to the committee so welcome to Sam too.

On a much sadder front we have lost two long standing members of Somerset Opera over the last few months in Sybil Hiscocks and Bunny Roberts. Both ladies were longstanding members and supporters of our group and our thoughts go out to their family and friends. On a similar note, Guy Robinson has informed us that there will be a memorial service for his father, Christopher, on Sunday 5^th September at 2.30pm at The Church of St Andrew and St Mary at Pitminster. If you would like to attend then please telephone Guy on 07776 228706 or email him at guyckrobinson@gmail.com

Congratulations to Vicky Armillotta who has graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music and will be starting at the Royal Academy of Music in September. She is now actively working to raise funds to see her through the course. If anybody would like to donate then Vicky has set up an online fundraiser site at https://gofund.me/4169c22f
Finally, I would like to let you know that Stephen Grimshaw and Sue Goodman are compiling a database of Somerset Opera’s previous performances from the archives which includes cast listings etc. This looks to be a fascinating document and we will publish it on the website when possible. Thank you to Stephen and Sue for doing this for us.

Thank you

Steve

Trial by Jury and Opera Highlights – November 5^th, 6^th and 7^th 2021
Welcome back everyone! The next concert by Somerset Opera will take place at the United Reform Church, Taunton on November 5^th ,6^th and 7^th, 2021 and we are looking forward to presenting ‘Trial by Jury’ by Gilbert and Sullivan and opera highlights with a diverse and interesting cast. David Hedges is the Musical Director and the Director is Hilary Marshall. ‘Trial’ will be fully costumed and presented in the 1st half of the evening to be followed by well known and loved arias and excerpts from operas. The cast of ‘Trial’ will be on stage for the whole of the opera –great fun and full of laughter. We also hope to sing two opera choruses in the 2^nd half of the evening.
The evening should be full of fun and lovely music. We are looking for singers who are interested in being in the chorus and also auditioning for parts. Also if there is anyone interested in singing extracts from operas, please again register an interest.
Those who are interested in taking part and/or auditioning, please contact Hilary Marshall on hm.marshall@btinternet.com or tel: 01823333559, or Chris Ball on chris@cjball.plus.com or tel: 01823327855
Obviously at the moment we are still unaware of the regulations relating to the coronavirus outbreak but there is no harm in planning for our future comeback. We all need to meet and sing again. We sincerely hope that by the dates shown on the schedule we are able to go ahead and obviously we will update the information as and when necessary.

The parts in ‘Trial’ and audition pieces are as follows.
Trial by Jury – auditions pieces

The Learned Judge (comic baritone) - No. 4 v1,2,and 5
The Plaintiff (soprano) - No. 6 Start p30 - ‘O’er the season vernal’ with 8 bar intro
The Defendant (tenor) - No.10 (both verses)
Counsel for the Plaintiff (lyric baritone) – No. 8 to ‘For the maid had bought her trousseau’
Usher (bass-baritone) - No 1 page 6 – End
Foreman of the Jury (baritone) – very small part p 32 and p39
First Bridesmaid – same as plaintiff – no solos as such but lots of acting

There is a male chorus of Jurors and female chorus of public in the gallery. There is also a chorus of bridesmaids. The chorus are on for the entire show and the aim is to have a lot of fun and be engaged in all the action. The aim is to costume the show and to present it as a fully staged operetta.

Trial by Jury and gala concert – 5^th, 6^th and 7^th November 2021
United Reform Church, Taunton

August 29th	Auditions – 2 Kilkenny Avenue, Taunton
September
7th	7:00 - New members auditions 7:30 – Music Sing through
9th	Music
14th	Music
16th	Music
21^st	Music
23rd	Music
28th	Music
30th	Music
October
5^th	Floor
7^th	Floor
12^th	Floor
14^th19th	Floor
21^st	Floor
26^th	Floor
28^th	Floor
November
2nd	If necessary
4th	Dress rehearsal
November 5th	2:30 get in and technical 7:30 Performance
November 6th	Performance
November 7th	performance

All rehearsals unless notified will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be at Vivary Golf Club, Taunton

Trial by Jury and Gala Concert.

I wish to be in ‘Trial by Jury’

I wish to sing in the gala concert

I wish to audition for a part(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Signed………………………………………………………………………………………………..