Yesterday was the first opera of the tour: L’Issipile, by a composer called Francesco Conti, an italian working at the royal court in Vienna; it dates from 1732. It’s not well known and not much performed. The group performing for us, La Nuova Musica, last performed it in London in 2014. Like lots of operas the plot it convoluted and based loosely on a classical myth.

But first we got to have a look around the plesant town of Noto, about 40km from Ortigia. The original town on a different site aas destroyed in an earthquake in 1693. The town was rebuilt in a consistent baroque style in a lovely golden sandstone with what seems like a church on every corner! And they all ring their bells vigourously at midday!

So we did a walking tour of the town, had a light lunch and then filed into the Teatro Tina di Lorenzo for a (much needed!) explanatory talk and the performance. La Nuova Musica were great – it was a really lively performance. So John is no longer an opera novice!