The Dragon of Wantley and Isleworth Baroque

[Catherine Bott]

Good evening - I'm sure French Frank will rap me over the knuckles if I'm stepping out of line with this post, so apologies in advance. Also, I should declare an interest: I'm Patron of the group whose hugely enjoyable production of Lampe's The Dragon of Wantley opened tonight. Isleworth Baroque have mounted a staging on a shoestring (50 cardboard boxes make three different sets) which has been tweaked (thoughtfully) to a certain extent so that it plays to every cast member's strengths. Two more nights at West Thames College, only a handful of seats left but it's a rare chance to see and hear a little gem. In places it's as if Faustina, Cuzzoni and Farinelli were before us - and who could fail to love an opera whose second act begins with an aria of the utmost melancholy whose opening line is "Sure my stays will burst with sobbing?"

I couldn't have got all that into a bloomin' Tweet.....

[french frank]

Good evening - I'm sure French Frank will rap me over the knuckles if I'm stepping out of line with this post

It is our aim to 'facilitate the creation of communities of interest' as Radio 3's service licence used to say of its messageboards, so:

The website with all details is here.

And this seems to be where you can find them.

And, who knows, the next day you might be able to add to the Famous People I've Sat by at a Concert thread

[Simon]

It would be wonderful to go - all power to all the local groups who put on these many and varied performances in so many genres.

But alas, again, it's in London. So it's out of reach of so many of us.

Best wishes to performers, organisers and audience alike, from the depths of the cold, wet hills of Derbyshire!

[Catherine Bott]

Many thanks!

[laurenceslater]

As a member of the cast I can only say it has been great fun putting this opera. I also have the declare an interest - I am the chairman of Isleworth Baroque - but I do believe that this is one of the best things we have done. The opera is a rare gem. We are performing for two more nights at West Thames College in Isleworth.