Sensational double bill for music lovers

Duchy Opera brings high drama and comedy to Falmouth with its staging of Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury.

If you love fabulous music, high drama and hilarious comedy, you’ll be spellbound by Duchy Opera’s summer double bill of two short, but well-loved productions.

The Sicilian sun will burn down on the Falmouth stage when the curtain lifts on Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, sung in English. One of the world’s most performed and popular operas, it tells the age-old story of a man, who returns from military service, to find his fiancée married to another. Think Poldark, but set in Sicily.

Its haunting melodies were not lost on Francis Ford Coppola, when he directed Godfather Part Three. The famous and hypnotic Intermezzo and Easter hymn echo throughout the movie.
Like the Godfather, Cavalleria Rusticana, is a dark tale of revenge, sex, high passion and violence. But the mood lightens in the second half, when the spotlight shines brightly on Gilbert & Sullivan’s hilarious comedy, Trial by Jury – a fast-paced ludicrous courtroom drama.

The Duchy Opera productions showcase the very best of Cornish talent, with entrancing Rebecca Louise Dale playing Santuzza, a village girl, devastated when betrayed by her sweetheart. She in turn betrays him, leading to a bloody finale.

Born in Cornwall, Rebecca studied musical theatre at Winchester University and Trinity College of Music. An experienced opera performer, she has many leading lady roles under her belt.

Another home-grown talent, Louis Dutton, playing Alfio, studied at top musical theatre college, Goldsmiths, where he won the prestigious Alexander Ivashkin Scholarship for Vocal Performance.
By contrast Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury is witty, tuneful and bonkers. The story is ridiculous, as are most of the main characters. Redoubtable cad, Edwin, is hauled into court to be tried for damages for breach of promise, after abandoning his betrothed Angelina.

In true G&S style, the main targets of wit are institutions – the law and marriage. Unlike Cavalleria, no blood spills and all ends happily – sort of.