INVERELL'S Opera in the Paddock has received funding of $5000 under the State Government's 2006 Music program, Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay has announced.
He also expects a further special grant of $5000 from the Minister for the Arts to assist the expansion of the popular event which will be held on March 25 next year at Mimosa, Delungra.
"Opera in the Paddock has enchanted audiences for the last four years,” Mr Torbay said.
"It is one of the cultural highlights of the year for music lovers in this region and the audience which reached almost 2000 last year keeps growing as more and more people hear about it.”
He congratulated organisers Bill and Peta Blyth who started Opera in the Paddock on their property as a way of bringing some of Australia's finest opera singers and musicians to country audiences.
"We are extremely grateful to Richard Torbay for his advocacy and continued support as we are to all our other sponsors for their assistance.” the Blyth's said.
Other sponsors include the New England Credit Union (NECU), Allianz Insurance, Country Energy, Big Sky Express and the Inverell Visitors Centre.
AT next year's Opera in the Paddock there will be a special focus on the music of Mozart to celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his birth.
Artists will include Peta Blyth soprano, Scottish tenor David Hamilton, baritone, Shaun Brown, bass David Hibbard and pianist David Miller.
They will perform excerpts from The Magic Flute, Donizetti's Don Pasquale, the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and several musicals.
Third year Sydney Conservatorium singing student from Bingara, Lexi Hutton, will sing Papagena, in addition to three Inverell students who will sing the three Genii in The Magic Flute.
An exciting new addition to the paddock will be a wind quintet which will add another dimension to the program.
As with previous years, patrons bring their own picnic meals and socialise under the stars prior to the start of the concert at dusk.
Tickets are already on sale at the Inverell Visitors Centre and will be available from the NECU branches from early January.
Further enquiries 1800 067 626; (02)6724 8248 or visit www.operainthepaddock.com.au .
© 2005 Inverell Times
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