A message in the form of a letter from the Chairman of Opera South, Anthony Ramsden, published in the show programme for The Elixir of Love (February 2007) sums up very well what is special about the company.

OPERA SOUTH is a very special company for two particular reasons.

Firstly, it has consistently sought to maintain high standards, both musically and artistically. The company takes the trouble to find emerging singers of the highest standard, some of whom then appear in the professional opera house. There is strong professional input from our producer, our music director, the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, our costume mistress, our set designer, and with lighting and stage direction.

Secondly, all this professional input is underpinned by the enormous voluntary effort, which is put into the company by so many. The company was built up by volunteers in the first place, and without them the company could not function. Volunteers give of their time and effort because they in turn greatly appreciate the high standards which the company has been able to achieve with the help of professional direction. Thus we have assembled a new database, and our website has been re-designed.

There is a substantial community involvement in our main production. Most of our chorus members live in the area. Almost all of the administrative work is carried out by volunteers. This, combined with the high standards achieved, gives the company its special flavour. For those of you who may have a little time on your hands, may I encourage you to think of volunteering in assisting us in all the rewarding tasks generated by running a quality opera company? It is only this voluntary work which can help to assure the company's future.

This last year, the company has taken the opportunity to acknowledge the long-term dedication of a number of volunteers:

• Robert and Jenny Hill both served on the committee at a senior level for several years, and have carried out vital behind-the-scenes work for a substantial number of our annual productions.
• Bertie Mawer was a founder member and served on the committee for some 16 years. He has achieved so much quietly in the background on behalf of the company.
• Geoffrey Ramsden was a founder committee member of the company (then Opera Omnibus) in 1984 and served as the company's treasurer, and then as its chairman, and has subsequently helped the company in numerous ways, to include serving as the company's President for two years.

They are all an example to us of what can be achieved. They have all been appointed honorary life members in recognition of their vital role in the development of the company.

1 have sung in the chorus of the company since it was founded in 1984 as Opera Omnibus. This will be the second time I have taken part in Donizetti's entertaining and light-hearted work, The Elixir of Love. I invite you to sit back and enjoy what I know to be this opera's appealing music and humour imaginatively set, in this production, in an English village in the 1920s.

Anthony Ramsden, SSCJ