One of the greatest operas ever to have been written by a woman will be performed at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro on November 8, 10 and 11.

It is also attracting national attention with forthcoming features on Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Radio 3's In Tune.

Dame Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers was first performed in Leipzig in 1906. 100 years on, Duchy Opera is set to premier the opera in Cornwall and, in so doing, achieve its most ambitious and exciting project to date.

Not that it has been an easy task. It has taken three years of preparation, endless meetings, countless hours of rehearsals and sheer dedication on the part of everyone involved to bring what is generally regarded as Ethel Smyth's greatest work to the Cornish stage.

Recognising the significance of a project, which will ultimately pave the way for other companies throughout the country to produce The Wreckers, the Arts Council England South West has provided £50,000 in funding. This has enabled Duchy Opera to enlist the services of librettist Amanda Holden, who has re-translated the libretto into English from its original French and German versions, and Tony Burke of Pocket Opera, who has reduced the score to more manageable orchestral levels.

"We started thinking about doing The Wreckers seriously in 2003," said Derek Reed, chairman of Duchy Opera. "We knew it wouldn't be an easy production to take on - not least because of the existing libretto and score - but it seemed fitting that an opera which had been inspired by Cornwall should, in its centenary year, be performed in the county."

David Sulkin, a highly experienced professional director who is head of policy and programmes at Youth Music in London, was keen to be involved.

"David has been part of the project from the start," said Derek. "He has directed plays, musicals and operas all over the world but he has always wanted to do The Wreckers. We are very lucky to have him."

Set in the second half of the eighteenth century, the opera tells the tale of a small village community in Cornwall who, threatened with starvation, are desperate to lure another ship on to their rocky shore. Thirza, the wife of the local preacher, and Mark, a local fisherman, stand alone against the villagers' evil plans but their love and their actions lead them on to tragedy. Discovered lighting a bonfire to warn passing ships of the danger they are in, the pair are taken to a cave by the revengeful village mob and left to drown as the tide comes in and the final curtain falls.

The role of Thirza is being taken by Cornwall-based mezzo-soprano Cheryl Brendish, Mark is being played by tenor Ian Yemm, a member of Welsh National Opera, the role of Pascoe, the local preacher who is married to Thirza, is being played by John Hobbs from Devon and the part of Avis, who is also in love with Mark, has been taken by Louise Merrifield. Other leading roles are played by Paul Carey Jones, Martin Lamb, Ed Goater and Hannah Pascoe. The chorus, mainly singers from the local community, will be joined by members of the London-based Grosvenor Light Opera Company.

"I thought it would be useful to get the audience thinking about the whole wrecking issue from the moment they enter the theatre door," said Will Coleman, who ran the project. "The films that the young people produced have certainly achieved that."

With an amazingly innovative set designed by Myth Wannell and Tom Barnecut Watson, Duchy Opera's The Wreckers promises to be their finest production to date. Tickets can be obtained from the Hall for Cornwall on 01872 262466.