With the New Year, New Cornwall Opera resumes its tour of opera concerts with a Spanish theme this month in the run up to its production of Carmen at the Minack in July.

VIVA! includes soloists John Hobbs (who will also be conducting), Louise Merrifield and Shirley Tyack together with the New Cornwall Opera Chorus performing colourful, passionate and occasionally frivolous music.

Venues and dates are as follows: Friday, January 12- Memorial Hall, Gerrans (Portscatho) Friday, January 26 - Trelissick Gardens Saturday, January 27- the Parkhouse Centre, Bude Friday, February 9 - St Mary's Church Penzance All at 7.30pm Tickets may be obtained from the Hall for Cornwall box office on 01872 262466 except for Trelissick tickets, from Trelissick only 01872 862090; Portscatho tickets also from Ralph's shop, Portscatho; Bude tickets also from the Ark Angel Bookshop, Bude. Tickets will be available on doors on the night. Further info can be found on on www.ncopera.co.uk