POPULAR local baritone Des Turner will be performing with a handicap when he takes part in St Albans Chamber Opera s production of Donizetti s popular opera The Elixir of Love later this month. For Des, a regular member of the company, is suffering from a

POPULAR local baritone Des Turner will be performing with a handicap when he takes part in St Albans Chamber Opera's production of Donizetti's popular opera The Elixir of Love later this month.

For Des, a regular member of the company, is suffering from a badly broken wrist after slipping on ice last month.

But he is hoping the plaster cast he is wearing will not interfere too much with his role as Doctor Dulcamara, the seller of love potions in the light hearted story of rivals in love Nemorino and Sgt Belcore as they compete for the hand of the well-to-do Adina.

Sung in English, the show will be on stage at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans from Tuesday, March 16, to Saturday, March 20.

Singing the parts of Nemorino and Sgt Bulcore will be tenor Patrick Ashcroft and baritone Paul Sheehan while the part of Adrina will be sung by Kathryn Jenkin.

Chamber Opera last performed the opera 20 years ago and this production is by Phyl Swindlehurst with Fraser Goulding as musical director.

Tickets, priced �16 for Tuesday to Thursday and �18 for Friday and Saturday (21 and under �10) are available from the Abbey Theatre box office on 01727 857861.