It was another successful Opera By The Lakes (OBTL) on Sunday, March 17, with this year’s event having a touch of green as part of St Patrick’s Day.
The weather Gods provided a sunny day at Nyerimilang Heritage Park with a slight breeze blowing over the largest lake system in the Southern Hemisphere, sharing good hospitality, wonderful music, good food, and a good laugh.
To set the happy tone of the day, the Gippsland Brass Band and Memory Lane ukulele group played a variety of Irish music while the East Gippsland Symphonia played later on the main stage.
Artistic director, Andrea Ford, said the feedback from attendees had been positive.
“This year we have never had so many glowing emails to say how much they enjoyed Gippsland Opera’s OBTL,” Ms Ford said.
“That was obvious from what was one of the longest sustained standing ovations, to the singers and musicians.
“Gippsland Opera’s OBTL is always something special to our patrons, who come from not just East Gippsland but Melbourne, interstate, Tasmania, New Zealand, and they stay not just overnight, but the buses are here for up to seven nights.
“The amazing part to me of OBTL is the 900 patrons, plus volunteers, community groups, keep growing, and they come back each year, it is almost like a pilgrimage that they all share together.”
Performers on the day included coloratura soprano, Georgia Wilkinson, tenor, Shanul Sharma, mezzo soprano, Dimity Shepherd and soprano, Kate Amos, accompanist, David McNichol, and baritones Nathan Lay and Wil Jones.
Together, the cast of singers performed a variety of songs, taking the audience through a musical journey around the world to locations including France, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Germany.
Ms Ford said the day couldn’t have gone better.
“Suffice to say the audience decided it was one of the best OBTL yet,” she said.
“Everyone in that packed audience stood up for a rousing and sustained standing ovation to the singers, who had given their heart and soul and amazing voices to such an appreciative audience.”
