AN opera company which has been putting on productions at Malvern's Festival Theatre since 1977 has disbanded after losses on its last production.

Malvern Hills Opera decided to call a halt after Mozart's Don Giovanni, staged in February, made a loss of £2,940.

George Rich, the company's business manager, said that although the debts were not crippling, the committee took it as a warning that the time to dissolve the company had come.

He said that losses on shows at Malvern Theatres over the past ten years had averaged about £3,000 and that means of raising funds had steadily dwindled.

"The trouble stems not so much from a financial crisis as a lack of support both on the general membership and administrative fronts," he said.

"Soloist strength and quality are both very good but chorus members are increasingly difficult to find. The committee has been below strength for three years and is feeling the strain.

"Without a large body of acting members, our fundraising is getting to be less and less successful. Our patrons still give us generous support but appeals to charitable foundations have met with most discouraging responses."

At an extraordinary general meeting, the committee voted 12-0 to dissolve the company. Its assets were enough to clear its debts.

The company, which was the successor to the old opera and ballet club, has put on 21 productions over the years, ranging from famous works such as Carmen to lesser-known pieces such as La Sonnambula.

On two previous occasions, in 1998 and 1994, the group was forced to suspend full-scale productions because of financial losses.

"The demise of Malvern Hills Opera leaves Bel Canto Opera of Cheltenham as the only resident company performing opera, as distinct from operetta or musical comedy, in this part of the country," added Mr Rich.