Very sensibly, they visited the school in the morning and briefed the children on the complexities of the plots that would be included in the evening's programme.

The Barber of Seville

Four young singers, accompanied by a pianist and a stage manager, came in to give the Isle its first taste of live opera. 

 "The Barber of Seville" by Rossini got us all off to a good start, the action easy to understand even in Italian!

A steamy Seville was the city which united all four operas and it was amazing how well the scene was convincingly set for us with absolutely minimal props -  a screen and a kitchen step-stool plus a couple of flowers and knives.  

Costumes similarly amounted to no more than two or three jackets and hats together with two vital red scarves.