Opera By The Lakes

Opera By The Lakes on Sunday March 18th - what a wonderful day - with the most amazing program performed by singers from Opera Australia and Vic Opera, plus Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria. Patrons came from all over Australia and overseas, including a tour group from Hamilton, New Zealand, waited eagerly to pass through the gates of Nyerimilang Heritage Park to enjoy the vocal talent awaiting them.

Kalimna CFA arrive as the 'cock crows' waiting to park everyone, and if you think only musicians can make music, you would be wrong. The marshals with the magic waving of their hands had those cars coming in like ballet dancers; the cars are parked in perfect lines, all with a smile from the CFA.

The East Gippsland Brass Band with conductor Kees Dogger leading a great band of musicians playing a variety of music to help keep their feet tapping, was the first introduction to the day's activities as the patrons walked up to the Gate House, along with the children of Nungurner Primary School, dressed in pirate costumes handing out 'show bags' (full of regional events of things to see and do) to the long queue of people. It is never too young to learn how to market the place where you live. 

Bower Birds were busy handing out those delicious boxed lunches, with profits going to B.R.H.S. It was 'full on' activity with St John's Ambulance helping to make the less abled bodied among us feel comfortable.

Gippsland Opera volunteers, in their bright orange jackets, were selling programs, making sure that everyone was greeted with smiles, and in short making them feel welcome to 'our patch'. East Gippsland Symphonia played some gorgeous music, whilst the patrons munched their lunch, all this setting the scene for the event to follow. 

Will McCutcheon from Parks Victoria opened the event with a welcome to all, followed by the Mayor of East Gippsland Joe Rettino, who echoed those sentiments on behalf of East Gippsland Shire. It was great to see them there; like all of us they are ambassadors for the region and with the backdrop of our very beautiful East Gippsland Lakes, in what must be one of the most stunning areas in world.

The wind decided that it also wanted to attend the event, without a ticket; it had a little run around, blew the cobwebs away and set the scene for bass baritone Jeremy Kleeman’s first aria, Handel's Sorge infausta, appropriately about a tempest. Once the wind listened to that and applauded with a few 'rumbles' it disappeared. Jeremy is playing the lead role of Albert in Vic Opera's Magic Pudding, demonstrating with everything he performed why he is so in demand, whether its something from Kiss Me, Kate, or opera arias, it is done so effortlessly in a voice like rich dark chocolate.

Olivia Cranwell from Opera Australia thrilled the audience with her beautiful rich voice as she sang "Mimi" from Puccini's La Boheme, and later in the program another Puccini favourite from Madam Butterfly, "One Fine Day".  Georgia Wilkinson, a crowd favourite, who will be singing duets in Sydney with Teddy Tahu Rhodes, proved why she is invited to sing with these top opera singers with her “Glitter and be Gay” from Candide and the beautiful Song to the Moon by Rusulka, then to top all of that, she performed the wind up doll song from The Tales of Hoffman by Offenbach.

Madeline Crombie, has performed at O.B.T.L. since its inception five years ago, and the audience have watched her vocal skills grow, culminating in winning the Opera Scholars of Australia singer of the year for 2017. What a delight she is to listen to with her rendition of “Caro Nome” from Rigoletto by Verdi.

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria were just delightful, with their two sections of The Pirates of Penzance providing an opportunity for the audience to sing along to some rousing music, and provide the children from Nungurner Primary School a growing familiarity with the wit of Gilbert and his mate Sullivan. 

The featured artist this year was the singing sensation tenor Shanul Sharma, who stepped off the plane 36 hours prior to the event from starring in the Milan Opera House. Without a sign of jet lag, he held the audience in the palm of his hands with everything from Mario Lanza favourites, Granada and Because you're Mine, to the tenor's test, or the nightmare if you cannot reach the nine high 'c's'  in The Daughter of the Regiment by Donizetti. With his natural charisma he walked down the stage steps to sing to various ladies in the audience.

The program finished on a very appropriate note with Brindisi from La Traviata by Verdi, a toast to the volunteers, the groups,  musicians, performers, and the patrons, who all come together to  enjoy something they all love. And they must love this event, they are already wanting to book for the next O.B.T.L. on Sunday, March 17^th, 2019 but more about that later.

Andrea Ford