2009 proved to be the ‘roller-coaster’ that was predicted. We started with a splendid winner of our Opera Prize in January (Kathryn Rudge) who will return to Clonter in July 2010 to sing the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. This was followed in April by a delightful Cosi fan tutte with rave reviews. We then started to experience the credit crunch in May and launched ourselves into Verdi’s Rigoletto uncertain how we would emerge financially and artistically. Thanks to a splendid cast and three outstanding principals, avoiding Swine Fever and other maladies, the artistic goals were fully realised and, by a strange coincidence of fate, we received two legacies which enabled us to survive financially until the end of our season and to plan for the forth-coming 2010/2011 programmes.

This unexpected source of income has prompted us to advertise the fact that we have been rescued by these two acts of generosity in the Wills of two much-loved loyal supporters. We welcome others to consider us similarly. The appropriate forms can be supplied from our office.

We did not receive any help from the Government’s recent Sustain initiative so we have been unable to mount another Spring Opera with piano to follow the success with ‘Cosi’. However we have decided, instead, to engage 6 ‘Emerging Artists’ from those who auditioned for us recently. On April 17th the Opera Showcase will include popular scenes similar to the November Gala, also directed by Geoffrey Saunders, and we hope that this will prove to be as popular as the autumn event.

Thanks for your support and Happy New Year!

Jeffery Lockett