Merrie England - October 2012 Still in the spirit of the Queen's fabulous Diamond Jubilee celebrations a few months ago, it gives us enormous pleasure to announce that we're performing a concert version of Edward German's delightful comic opera Merrie England. This will be on 21 October at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks. The music of Merrie England is nostalgic and wonderful, and this is a rare, unmissable chance to hear it performed by our top-quality singers and players. The patriotic story, written in 1902 with libretto by Basil Hood, concerns the love, rivalries and Tudor mayhem caused when Good Queen Bess visits the townsfolk of Windsor to celebrate May Day. Songs include "O Peaceful England", the ballad "Dan Cupid Hath a Garden" and the stirring "The Yeomen of England". Our concert will feature soloists from leading opera companies, including Stefanie Kemball-Read who enchanted us all as Adele in Die Fledermaus, Louise Crane who was an awesome Katisha in our Mikado of 2008, and the hilarious lyric baritone Ian Belsey (Captain Corcoran in last year's HMS Pinafore). They will be magnificently supported by the acclaimed Kentish Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Robyn Sevastos. The opera is full of great music and the comic story is easy to follow, promising to make it a tremendous evening out, suitable for the whole family.