Inverell's Opera in the Paddock has secured a top line up of performers for it's sixth concert under the stars at Mimosa, Delungra, on Saturday, March 17.

Most will be familiar faces – soprano Peta Blyth, New Zealand-based tenor Richard Greager, Brisbane-based baritone Shaun Brown, bass David Hibbard and pianist David Miller.

They will be joined by Melbourne mezzo soprano Roxane Hislop and Sydney Conservatorium student David Commisso.

All six will perform the sextet from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, which will be a highlight of the concert.

This year's program also includes excerpts, solos and ensembles from Gluck's Orfeo and Euridyce, Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers and Puccini's Tosca and, in the second half, a focus on Viennese composers including Stolz, Lehar and Strauss, finishing with a touch of the Irish to mark St Patrick's Day.

An instrumental ensemble has been engaged and the concert will benefit once again from the technical expertise of Roy Jeffrey, the ABC's retired head of lighting, and Martin Hansford on sound.

Last year almost 2000 music lovers from around the region as well as Brisbane and Sydney booked out the available accommodation in Inverell, with some staying in Glen Innes and Bingara. Several others took advantage of the local home stay options.

"To maintain the audience's interest the program is the key and I believe you can't just trot out the standard 'evergreens', although there have to be some," said Ms Blyth, who organises the concert with her husband Bill in a paddock that provides perfect acoustics in front of their house.

"I like to explore different combinations, both with the singers and instruments.

"It is more interesting for the audience to have the ensemble pieces.

"In that vein this year we will see the quintet from Cosi fan Tutte and the sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor."

The choice makes rehearsals more complicated, given the geographic locations of the artists.

However, the audience would have it no other way and the increasing popularity of the concert has drawn additional sponsorship from the Inverell Shire Council, Oaks hotels and appartments in Sydney, Qantaslink for a workshop in Armidale for singing and music students, as well as continuing support from the Minister for the Arts through Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay, the New England Credit Union, Country Energy, Allianz Insurance and the Inverell Visitors Centre.

© 2007 Inverell Times

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