After the artistic success last year of Handel’s Semele we couldn’t wait to give ourselves another challenge. We’ve opted this year for Purcell’s beguiling semiopera The Fairy Queen, which we’ll present, fully staged and directed by rising star Deborah Cohen, at the theatre of North Hertfordshire College just five days after the course begins. We are seeking highly competent instrumentalists and choral singers who are able to learn their lines before the course, and early in 2013 we will be auditioning singers – who must be of a professional standard – for the solo roles. We work at A=415Hz and with period instruments or copies. The course congregates at Benslow Music in time for an initial run through at 5pm on the Monday and leaves after brunch on the Sunday, the morning after the performance.