Young Bingara soprano Lexi Hutton will perform in an excerpt from Mozart's The Magic Flute at the fifth Opera in the Paddock on Saturday, March 25.

Currently in her fourth year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Hutton is a former student of soprano Peta Blyth, who with her husband Bill organises the concert under the stars on their property Mimosa, near Delungra.

Hutton will sing the role of Papagena in the famous duet with tenor Shaun Brown.

"We are so pleased to include Lexi this year," Ms Blyth said.

"She is a very talented singer and musician and it is great to have her back performing in her home district."

The young singer grew up in Bingara where she developed a love of flute and piano. She continued her study at PLC Armidale and was involved in many TAS productions.

She was also a member of the Gondwana Voices, touring with them to the International Choral Festival in the Netherlands.

In 2001, she was half of the winning duo competing in the state duologue section of the Globe Shakespeare Australia Youth Festival.

In 2003, she began study at the Sydney Conservatorium and is now in her fourth year of B Mus(Performance), studying with Jane Edwards.

In addition to her studies, she has continued her performing with several productions, including the role of Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, Jennifer Gabriel in Witches of Eastwick, Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Meg Chilcott in Seven Little Australians and Sally Brown in Snoopy.

She is also a member of the vocal A Cappella quartet, The Sweet and Low, which was recently invited to perform at the Huntington Festival.

This year's Opera in the Paddock will include a wind quintet to accompany the singers, including Ms Blyth, Scottish tenor David Hamilton, baritone Shaun Brown, bass David Hibbard, pianist David Miller and young local performers.

The program celebrates Mozart's 250th anniversary with segments from The Magic Flute, as well as excerpts from operas by Donizetti, Rossini, Wagner, Massenet and Gilbert and Sullivan. Popular favourites from Man of La Mancha, Westside Story and Brigadoon will end the concert.

* Tickets are on sale at the Inverell Visitors Centre and from New England Credit Union branches. For more information phone 1800 067 626, 6724 8248, or visit www.operainthepaddock.com.au

© 2006 Inverell Times

<< Back