Pew! It's hot stuff for the operatic vicar

Oct 24 2007 By Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail

A VICAR is swapping his dog collar in favour of a costume to take part in a stunning new production of the opera La Traviata in Birmingham.

Rev Richard Tetlow will be joining the chorus performing in the Birmingham Opera Company's version of Verdi's tale of an affair with a notorious courtesan.

For Mr Tetlow, who has been the vicar at St John's and St Peter's, in Darnley Road, Ladywood, for 18 years, it's not the first time he has taken to the stage.

"I must have performed in at least a dozen operas before," said the 65-year-old.

A high tenor, Mr Tetlow has enjoyed singing from an early age and is particularly fond of opera.

"I love the tunes of the opera and I've no problems singing them," he said.

Mr Tetlow is one of hundreds of members of the public from across the Midlands who have been chosen by BOC to join its cast of professionals.

The company is well-known for staging productions using people who may have had no previous experience.

It hopes that by bringing Verdi's opera to every-day people, it will help to dispel the musical genre's "stuffy" image.

Mr Tetlow said: "I like to do as much as I can for the community so I'm very pleased to be involved."

Jean Nicholson, general manager of BOC, said it was good that local people were involved with the show.

"La Traviata is going to be a wonderful production, packed with gorgeous tunes and a wonderful story.

"Our artistic director has directed the opera for the world-famous Arena di Verona opera festival in Italy and has persuaded the authorities there to lend us the production.

"We have established a reputation in Birmingham for not being what you expect from opera.

"It's not stuffy, you don't have to dress up and and we're delighted to get people interested in this wonderful and expressive art form."

The production will be staged tomorrow and on Friday at 7.30pm at Birmingham's NIA.

Tickets start at £15 from www.necgroup.co.uk/boxoffice or 0870 010 9032. For more details, visit www.latraviatalive.com.