************************* After the huge success with Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, Yorkshire audiences are set to be treated to yet another operatic delight when York Opera present a rare opportunity to see Ralph Vaughan Williams’ first opera, Hugh the Drover, at York Theatre Royal on the 9,10, 12 & 13 October. Set in a small Cotswold town during the Napoleonic Wars, the action revolves around Mary, the Constable’s daughter, who is pledged to marry the bully, John the Butcher. In one of the quickest ‘love at first sight’ scenes in all opera, she encounters Hugh the Drover, a free spirit, who recognises her need to break away from her restricting surroundings. On the way to freedom we experience village fair, Morris dancers, a night in the stocks, a dashing army sergeant, and, in perhaps the defining scene of the opera, a prize fight in which Hugh fights John for Mary’s hand. Although he is one of our best loved English composers (The Lark Ascending was recently voted top favourite among Classic FM listeners) Vaughan Williams’ operas receive little attention in the land of his birth. York Opera have performed Hugh the Drover twice previously at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre (in 1981 and 1995) but believe that it is worthy of being seen in a larger venue. It is a charming work, greatly influenced by the composer’s deep and enduring interest in traditional folk tunes. Vaughan Williams’ widow, Ursula Vaughan Williams, came to see the company’s two previous productions and subsequently became a Vice-President of the group. She is now York Opera’s Patron. The Chairman of the Vaughan Williams Society has also attended previous productions in York and has already reserved tickets for October. The production will feature Australian born opera singer Ben Kerslake as Hugh the Drover. Ben has recently appeared for Opera North in their productions of Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto, Salome and One Touch of Venus. He will be joined by Thirsk singer Diane Peacock who recently gained a scholarship to study with Rosalind Plowright at the 2007 London Masterclasses. York Opera (originally City Opera Group) has been in existence since 1966 and is this year celebrating the 40th anniversary of its first fully staged production, Orpheus in the Underworld in 1967. During 40 years of bringing live opera to the City of York, York Opera have performed many works from the standard Italian/French/German repertoire, but have always tried to include productions of English operas when possible. Its list of past productions includes The Beggar’s Opera, Polly, Dido and Aeneas (twice), Albert Herring, Peter Grimes, The First Nowell and many operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan. To coincide with the production York Theatre Royal’s caterers are laying on special, pre-performance English teas, and there will be live English folk music in the foyer - so why not get there early and make a night of it? For further details contact the box office. Tickets for Hugh the Drover are priced from £7.00 to £18.00 (concessions available on 9 & 10 Oct) and can be purchased at the York Theatre Royal Box Office by calling 01904 623568 or booking securely online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk **************************