Opera among the trees

It’s true some people like to avoid the party mania that grips the city on Mardi Gras weekend -“ there’s a regular exodus to such predictable escapes as Melbourne, the Gold Coast and the Blue Mountains.

But organisers of an opera concert hope they can attract some of those people and divert them to Pearl Beach on the Central Coast for Opera In The Arboretum, being held on Mardi Gras Saturday.

We didn’t want to clash with Mardi Gras again, as we did that last year, and thought we would manage it better this year, but we didn’t, John Greenway, coordinator of the event, admits. But I like to think we present an alternative for people wanting something completely different, but only a 75-minute drive away from Sydney.

This year, Opera At The Arboretum features Opera Australia star Jos?arb?ho has recently starred in The Marriage Of Figaro and will be seen in April in The Barber Of Seville.

Carb?ll be joined at the Arboretum concert by such other opera stalwarts as Stephanie Acraman, Annabelle Chaffey and Richard Lane.

Carb?ll lead the group through such classic works as the Lamke duet, Carmen‘s Toreador Song, Nessun Dorma and The Pearl Fishers duet.

Last year we had a good turn-out, and this year we are expecting about 700 people, Greenway says. This is such a beautiful location, and we figured that a taste of opera is not such a bad idea for this area.

And if people really want to make it a huge day, they can race back to the city and still be there just in time for the start of the Mardi Gras parade.

All proceeds raised by Opera At The Arboretum will go to CanTeen, which supports young people living with cancer.

Opera At The Arboretum is on Saturday 3 March at 3pm at the Crommelin Arboretum, Pearl Beach (take the Woy Woy/Gosford exit on the F1 freeway). Bookings on 4341 6004.