Sun shines for opera superstars

Thousands of opera lovers turned out on a sunlit evening in Scarborough for a gala performance at the newly revitalised open-air theatre.

About 6,500 people came to see legends Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Jose Carreras perform alongside the orchestra of Opera North and Huddersfield Choral Society.

Brian Blessed, the actor and Mexborough born miner's son, returned to his home county to host the event.

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The amphitheatre first opened in 1932 but – apart from a handful of performances in the 1980s – productions largely ceased there after 1968 and in 1977 the dressing room and stage, set on an island, were demolished.

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, which helped to put on the event, said: "It is wonderful to see this historic theatre, in the most beautiful setting, brought back to life."

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