Opera in the Arboretum 2023

About the event

Opera in the Arboretum is an annual charity fundraising event hosted by the Rotary Club of Woy Woy. 

This open-air, all-weather, picnic style event featuring stars of the Opera is held beneath the canopy of trees in the coastal rainforest of the Crommelian Native Arboretum in Pearl Beach, NSW. Since the event’s inception in 2005 hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for deserving causes, charitable organisations and Rotary humanitarian projects. 

WHO BENEFITS FROM OPERA IN THE ARBORETUM?

Ticket booking is not handled by the Pearl beach Progress Association but click on the link below to book.

Pearl Beach Opera on this Saturday 11 March

The Pearl Beach Arboretum is once again set to ring out with glorious music and song on March 11. Opera in the Arboretum is excited to present acclaimed UK bass baritone Rodney Earl Clarke who comes to Australia from London West End where he is currently performing in Les Misérables. Rodney will be singing with his mezzo-soprano wife Louise Callinan who has sung in opera houses around the world including Paris Opera. Our Australian based Opera stars include award winning soprano Lorina Gore who has recently performed the lead in La Traviata with Opera Queensland and superb tenor John Longmuir who is a principal with Opera Australia.

Joining the singers on is violin prodigy Alicia Poon and international pianist Donna Balson. The event will also feature the Central Coast Chamber Orchestra with players from the Central Coast Conservatorium under the baton of Conductor Patrick Brennan.

The music program flows with the passion and intrigue of opera’s most celebrated characters from Don Giovanni to Carmen, with famous ensembles including the Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffmann and the beautiful trio from Cosi fan tutte. Alicia performs the stunning work Havanaise by  Saint-Saëns on violin and the Chamber Orchestra plays the haunting Nimorod Variations by Elgar. The event also celebrates the Golden Age of Music Theatre with the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

The event is in the open air at Crommelin Native Arboretum in Pearl Beach amongst the beautiful trees and kookaburras. Opera in the Arboretum is a charity event hosted by the Rotary Club of Woy Woy and this year’s recipients will be the Umina Surf Lifesaving Club, Beyond Blue, Central Coast Conservatorium and other Rotary charities. 

Captions for attached photos:

Photo 1:  Our singers in 2023 – Rodney Earl Clarke (baritone), Louise Callinan (mezzo soprano), John Longmuir (tenor), Lorina Gore (soprano).

Photo 2: Opera in the Arboretum 2022 with Jose Carbo (baritone) and Clarrissa Spata (soprano).

Michaele Archer 

Artistic Director 

Opera in the Arboretum