Opera North West (ONW) is spreading its wings with a series of concerts across the northern region beginning with Viva Opera on Saturday at 8pm at the Capitol Theatre in Country Music Capital, Tamworth.

The company which presents the popular Opera in the Paddock at Delungra each year will put the regional show on the road during spring with concerts also planned for Coffs Harbour, Murwillumbah, New Italy near Woodburn, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Moree, Inverell and Gunnedah.

Artists for the Tamworth concert include Paddock veterans baritone David Wakeham, local soprano Peta Blyth, pianist David Miller and mezzo soprano Zoe Taylor with talented young Tamworth soprano, Lisa Culf, and Manilla based oboist, Li Ling Chen.

The concert series will include Viva Opera, Celestial Sounds to Serenade with a Touch of Jazz! Many regional performers are showcased, as well as several young performers, so providing an important platform for these young people.

At Tamworth the artists will perform selections from Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Zaide, Verdi’s La Traviata, Macbeth and Nabucco, Delibes Lakme and works by Cole Porter, Tom Lehrer, Sondheim and Victor Herbert.

“We are delighted to be performing the first of these concerts in Tamworth as there are so many local opera lovers who come to the Paddock each year,” artistic director Peta Blyth said.

“We are also very keen to perform at the Capitol and test out its great acoustics.”

“The concerts are an important extension of Opera in the Paddock which aims to bring top performers and highly professional music and opera to regional audiences.”

The concert series is being sponsored by Essential Energy and a grant from Arts NSW.

Based at Delungra, Opera North West is the only regionally based opera company outside Newcastle and Sydney and as such continues its charter to present fine music in the country.

Opera in the Paddock will be held next year on March 24.

© 2011 Inverell Times

<< Back