INVERELL'S popular Opera in the Paddock has received a boost through a special grant of $7,500 from the Premier, the Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay, has announced.

Mr Torbay met with organisers Bill and Peta Blyth and Regional Arts Development Officer Jack Ritchie last week to present the cheque and discuss next year's event on Saturday, March 19.

"It's great to receive this support from the Premier who heard Peta Blyth sing at the opening of the Roxy Theatre in Bingara and keeps getting enthusiastic reports, particularly from me, about Opera in the Paddock," Mr Torbay said.

"Bringing some of the nation's opera singers and musicians to perform on stage in a paddock at Delungra is a magic experience and country people have shown how much they appreciate it by turning up in their hundreds each year.

"It has now become a major regional event, going from strength to strength and has gathered tremendous support and enthusiasm from Inverell and the wider community," he said.

Torbay called the meeting with Mr Ritchie and the Blyths to discuss recurrent funding to grow the event in the future.

"More artists are added each year and the audience is increasing dramatically," he said. "Funding helps to keep ticket prices at a reasonable level and it is a good idea to start planning now towards staging a full opera with an orchestra some time in the future."

Opera in the Paddock has also gained sponsorship from the New England Credit Union, Allianz Insurance, Country Energy, Big Sky Express and the Inverell Visitors Centre.

The line up for the 2005 performance includes Peta Blyth (soprano), Elizabeth Campbell (mezzo soprano), Richard Greager (tenor), David Hibbard (bass), David Miller (piano), Paul Curtis (flute) and Mark Walton (clarinet).

They will present a program of arias, duets, trios and quartets from opera, operetta and musicals onstage at Mimosa, the Blyth's property at Delungra, 25kms west of Inverell.

© 2004 Inverell Times

<< Back