The year ends in an even number, which means another Benslow Baroque Opera Course, the only course for hobby musicians we know about which aims to put together a fully staged performance of an opera in less than a week. This time we’re tackling Handel’s lovely and highly entertaining opera-oratorio Semele – great music – and we are looking for highly competent players of baroque instruments and a troupe of choral singers eager to learn their moves and (of course) to dress up for the event. We’ll also be auditioning for soloists – who must be of professional standard - early in the New Year. The performance will be at A = 415 Hz and the performances take place at Hitchin’s Queen Mother Theatre (where the course congregates for an initial run-through at 4 pm on the first afternoon) on Sat 14 April. We depart after a leisurely brunch the next day.