NEXT weekend’s Opera in the Paddock will be full of surprises for its 10th birthday celebration.

As well as the fireworks display at the end of the concert and some very exotic costumes loaned by Opera Australia a young Aboriginal musician will play a didgeridoo solo during the second half.

Born in Melbourne, Ben Lange was the first Indigenous electrical engineer in Australia and the first indigenous engineering student to graduate from the University of New South Wales.

He will be speaking to students at Tingha Primary School and the Inverell and McIntyre high schools during his visit.

His Aboriginal name is Milliwurra Niarrungi of the Marra people, south of the Roper River mouth, on the east coast of the Northern Territory in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

He picked up playing the yidaki (or didgeridoo) in his teenage years in Cairns.

At UNSW he studied through an industry co-operative scholarship and also participated in research, analysing the acoustical properties of the Yidaki in the University’s Acoustic Laboratory. He now works as a project engineer for Energex Australia and acts as a mentor to young indigenous students considering engineering as a profession.

“Ben’s story and his achievements are inspiring,” said paddock artistic director Peta Blyth.

“He is not only an outstanding young man but an accomplished musician and we are delighted he has agreed to play at this year’s concert.”

The 10th anniversary will be a night to remember with a 20 piece orchestra, including musicans who have taken time out from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, two singers from Opera Australia who are coming especially to sing at the event and a tribute to Dame Joan Sutherland.

“It has taken ten years to build to this stage, it would be wonderful to have a full paddock for the celebrations,” Ms Blyth said.

“At this stage, we have people travelling from all over the state, interstate and overseas to be with us. We are hoping the local community will also be there in strength.”

This year’s program includes excerpts from Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment, La Favorita and Don Pasquale, Bellini’s I Puritani and Norma, Verdi’s Rigoletto , Puccini La Rondine and Bizet’s Carmen, Bernstein, Strauss and Lehar. Once again a German, Italian and French Art song recital will be held in the Inverell Town Hall on Friday March 18 at 6.15pm as a precursor to the opera concert.

Tickets available at www.operainthepaddock.com.au or Inverell Visitors Information Centre on 6728 8161.

© 2011 Inverell Times

<< Back