A Night of Opera at Palace Theatre

Red Earth Opera are presenting A Night of Opera and Song at Paignton's Palace Theatre this weekend.

Based in Paignton, Red Earth Opera was established eight years ago and is run by Jane Anderson-Brown.

It offers opportunities for local chorus and orchestral musicians supplemented by professional players and singers.

Red Earth Opera's last production was in November 2019 - Donizetti’s The Love Potion in St Matthew's Church in Chelston - and two Red Earth Opera young singers are now forging professional careers in London and elsewhere with two other principals already having significant careers under their belts.

The pandemic hit all performing groups, although Red Earth Opera did present a programme at Cockington Manor in September 2020, funded by Torbay Culture (Arts Council) as part of the Create to Recover initiative, and also a concert in Chudleigh in March 2022.

It had been hoped to bring a full production to Torbay in November, but Covid has still been an issue, so Red Earth Opera are presenting a concert.

Performing with orchestra, chorus and two soloists, the programme includes the Elgar Sea Pictures made famous by Janet Baker, as well as extracts from Mozart’s Idomeneo, and from Macbeth as set to music by Verdi and by Arthur Sullivan.

Almost all of the programme will be sung in English.

The Verdi will include the fabulous chorus of Scottish Refugees, and Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene.

Soloists are Anna Gregory and Carolyn Harries.

Tickets for the Palace Theatre performance on Sunday, November 6, are available from the theatre box office on 01803 665800 or online at www.palacetheatrepaignton.co.uk