Opera Prize

The UK’s major conservatoires nominate their most promising singer to compete in the Opera Prize.

The nominees sing their 3 chosen arias during the first half. The judging panel and audience then have the opportunity to discuss and vote for their favourite singer during the supper interval.

The winning singer receives a cheque for £2,000, the runner-up receives £500 and the audience’s favourite receives a magnum of champagne. Why not take this opportunity to have your say!

Saturday 5 Feb

7pm

£30, £25 - 70 minute supper interval

pre-order supper or bring your own food

Clonter Opera Theatre

Swettenham Heath

Congleton

Cheshire

CW12 2LR

Box office 01260 224514

Something For The Weekend

There's so much going on this weekend, I'm putting money on me forgetting something important... but here's to trying anyway.

Beginning tonight with a hearty laugh at the Bollington Comedy Club with Noel James, Dom Carroll, Duncan Logan and Phil Ellis (as pictured). Doors and bar open at 7.30. Performance at 8pm and tickets £8.

Stay over until Saturday night and catch Bollington Jazz. Welcoming for the first time The Limehouse Jazz Band. Starts 8pm. £8. Both Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Rd. http://www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk/

There's art and Italian cinema Workshops on Saturday too. With Claire de Ruiter's Wrap Up For Winter. Make a felt scarf using vibrant merino wools. 10am-4pm. £40 including materials. Rainow Church Centre. http://www.clairederuiter.co.uk/.

Also... there's the Mill Italian Opera Workshop, with the works of Verdi and Italian food and drink. From 10.30am. £20. The Mill, Sunderland St. Macc. http://www.eventbrite.com/

Renaissance Art and Wine shows international artists Alister Colley from 2 Oct. Includes a wine tasting and raffle. Roylance Building, Waters Green Macc. 01625 502111

On the large scale there's also a silk town spectacular in the form of the Silk Ball in aid of East Cheshire Hospice at Macc Town Hall from 7.30pm. £60 per person. janet@silkevent.com

And in Congleton Clonter Opera presents Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) for its final Cheshire performance. 7pm (70 min supper interval) Tickets £65, £55, £40. Clonter Opera Theatre, Swettenham Heath. http://www.clonteropera.com/

Sunday looks a little mellower with The Hollin's Farmers Market. Hollins, Black Road, Macc. http://www.the-hollins.com/. And RSPB Wildlife Explorers Wildlife Safari and Treasure Hunt. Meeting at Teggs Nose (Bottoms Reservoir carpark) http://www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk/

Hope that's everthing and to see you out there!

Treacle with Everything

There's something for everybody this weekend... Clonter Opera present Rossini's classic, La Cenerentola (Cinderella), a darkly comic musical masterpiece, starting on Saturday (24 July). http://www.clonteropera.com/ for further dates and prices.

Gawsworth Open Air Theatre stages The Tempest. The bard's magical story of love, comedy and tragedy - seating in a covered auditorium. For dates and prices: http://www.gawsworthhall.com/

For a bit of Big Band Saturday there's music on the beautiful lawns of St James Vicarage with a licensed bar... from 7.30pm. £10 including food - a bargain and we can guarantee the you will be in the finest of company - 01260 252228.

And as if it wasn't enough for an evening of Acoustic bliss, with Chris Birdsall and Rory McKee (a Dead River Records production) dip into the Baths Hotel, Green Street for Fretbuzz.

And whatever you do tonight, to aid recover y and for the mellowest of all shopping experiences head to Macc's market spaces (Water's Green and the Market Place) on Sunday morning from 10am for finest foods and fresh produce, antiques, arts and vintage clothes... The town has never seen anything as wonderful as Treacle. It is a must visit!!!

See you there!!!

Something for the weekend?

The loop went to the private view of the new exhibition at Jobling Gowler last night. As ever it is good to see them generously allowing their extensive offices to be used by the Moving Clay group of artists. Its a really diverse show; there are large moody landscapes by Lindi Kirwin and tiny detailed jewell like pictures by Jacki Clark. Please note its only open during the week. Picture: map jewellery by Liz Hamman @ Jobling Gowler.

Tonight ( Fri) you can hear Helen Walford and Dead River Disco at The Hollins whilst tomorrow Dazed and Confused play the Nags Head.

Tomorrow at Camp Four (how we love an unorthodox exhibition space!) Bollington artist Dean Entwistle shows his pictures and talks about them too. Bollington Art Centre Gallery are showing 'Brushes with wildlife' an exhibition by the RSPB on Sunday and there is a Craft Show at Redesmere .

Meanwhile back to Saturday night and the OPERA GALA at Clonter.This popular annual event offers the opportunity to hear talented young professional singers perform arias, duets and excerpts of well-loved operas.It is is the perfect introduction to opera for those new to this art form or, for regular opera goers, it is a chance to hear popular selections of opera and musical theatres.
There's a 70 minute supper interval, or alternatively you could book an indoor (phew!) picnic table and bring a picnic.

The NCO are in the Heritage Centre on Saturday with Alexandra Dariescu, piano playing Elgar, Mozart, Bartok and Haydn.

Helen Walford, Fri 13 Nov The Hollins, 262 Black Rd 01625 424920
Clonter Opera Gala Evening Sat 14 Nov £30, £35, £40 - Indoor Picnic Table: £2 /person
NCO Saturday, 14 Nov 7.30pm Heritage Centre, Roe St
Moving Clay at Jobling Gowler Mon-Fri 9-5 250 Park Lane, Macc
Bollington Art Centre see link below
Redesmere Crafts, Sun 15 Nov 10.30-4.30 Siddington Village Hall 01260 297087
Dean Entwistle @ CampFour, Sat 14 Nov 7.30pm Pickford St, free but booking essential 01625 619204

Something for the weekend?

It appears to be a particularly musical weekend around town: there's Richard Leach's 7 stars of Jazz in Bollington on Saturday and more jazz with Anniie's Saints and Sinners at the Baths Hotel on Sunday afternoon in Macc. There is a choral performance of Spem in Alium in Christ Church (see post below)and Clonter Opera perform 'Rigoletto'. Pop Thugs play the Swan with Two Necks on Saturday and and the Box Groove Coolers are at Ronnie's on Sunday.

If you fancy something a bit more physical get along to the opening of the new Skate Park in South Park and if its your lungs that need a buzz, a night at Bolly Comedy Club tonight should do the trick ; if you heckle that is!

Jazz at Bollington Art Centre. see link below
Baths Hotel, Green St, sun 6 Oct 4pm 01625 262884
Clonter Opera www.clonteropera.com
Pop Thugs see maccattack link below.
Box Groove Coolers www.ronnies-bar.co.uk