An operatic trio at Theatre Royal

AS part of this autumn's six-venue mission to widen access to opera, and to increase performance opportunities for young singers, Glyndebourne on Tour, now in its 41st year, presents Mozart's Così fan tutte, Verdi's Falstaff and Janacek's Jenufa at the Theatre Royal from December 1-5.

Mozart's wickedly-seductive comedy opens the tour, in a 2006 Nicholas Hytner revival of Glyndebourne's 2006 Festival production, with Gillian Ramm making her tour debut as Fiordiligi.

Verdi's lyric comedy is a new production by Olivier-award-winner Richard Jones, which recently completed a successful run at this summer's Festival.

There's in fact a local connection here, as the title role will be taken by Jonathan Veira, who first brought his superb one-man show to Plymouth's Emmanuel Church some six years ago, and returns there next February – full details of this to follow later.

Jenufa, a shocking tale of misdirected love, violent jealousy, moral cowardice and desperate infanticide, was first staged by Nikolaus Lehnhoff at Glyndebourne in 1989, and this latest revival by Robin Ticciati, in his last year as GOT Music Director, features Belfast-born soprano Giselle Allen making her company debut in the title role.

Tickets (£16 to £46) are available from the Box Office (01752 267222) or online (www.theatreroyal.com).

Così plays on Tuesday (1st) and Friday (4th), Falstaff on Wednesday (2nd) and Saturday (5th), and there is one performance of Jenufa on Thursday December 3.

Curtain-up is at 7.15pm for all performances, and pre-concert talks take place each evening of the tour from 6.15-6.45pm.

Plymouth Symphony Orchestra opens its 135th season with an all-American programme featuring Philip Glass's eminently tuneful Violin Concerto.

Tom Vignieri's American Hymn opens the proceedings, with three somewhat more familiar works, Copland's Appalachian Spring, Bernstein's Dances from On the Town, and Gershwin's American in Paris completing the programme.

PSO concerts have nearly always been on Wednesdays, but on this occasion it has moved to Tuesday December 1 at 7.30pm in Plymouth Guildhall.

Although this clashes with Glyndebourne, PSO is taking the same programme to Launceston Town Hall on Sunday November 29 at the earlier time of 5.30pm.

Carol Bennett is the soloist in Launceston, whilst Thomas Gould will be heard in Plymouth, both with Anne Kimber conducting.

Tickets for the Guildhall (£15 balcony/£13.50 ground floor/£11.50 concessions/£5 students & children) are available in advance from Vibes Music, Cornwall Street, and for Launceston (£10 / £9 concessions / £4 students & children) from the town's Tottles Music.

They can also be bought at the door, if unsold. For further information please phone 01579 342955, or visit the website (www.plymouthsymphony.co.uk).

Californian-born jazz pianist and singer Judy Carmichael takes the next slot in the 17th International Concert Series at Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery on Thursday December 3 at 1.00pm.

Nicknamed 'Stride' by the legendary Count Basie, because of her consummate mastery of stride piano, originally made popular by Fats Waller and others, Judy, who also has her own radio show in the States, should delight local jazz aficionados with her hour-long mix of music, anecdotes and historical comment.

Tickets (£10) are available in advance from Plymouth City Museum Reception in person or by post to Drake Circus, PL4 8AL, with an SAE & cheque payable to 'Plymouth City Council'.

They can also be bought online at wegottickets.com and at the door, if unsold.

For further information please phone 01752 770345.

The next concert in the prestigious Plymouth Chamber Music Series features the Frith Piano Quartet on Saturday December 5 at the Sherwell Centre at 7.30pm, with a programme to include Mozart, Martinu, Lekeu and Schumann.

Full details next week, but for further information and booking, please phone 01752 588017 (8.30am-4.00pm weekdays).