2010 Opera in the Vineyard  featuring David Hobson with Jacqueline Porter Date:   2nd May 2010 Cost:   Opera $85 Lunch and Opera $140 Opera and Dinner $160 All Day $200

  2010 Opera Bus Timetable

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Our Special Guest in 2010

David Hobson is one of Australias best known and loved operatic performers.  A Tenor and Composer, David has appeared with most Opera Companies in Australia and from around the world.  It is with great pleasure that the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe and Ballandean Estate Wines welcome David to the 2010 Opera in the Vineyard.   We are also delighted to announce that Jacqueline Porter will once again be returning to Ballandean and Opera in the Vineyard.   Jacqueline is a multi-award winning artist renowned nationally and internationally.

The Event

Opera In the Vineyard is a charity event held during the May Day longweekend each year in May in the spectacular vineyards of Ballandean Estate Wines.   The event is one of South East Queensland's premier cultural events, and the jewel of the Granite Belt's social calendar. Opera in the Vineyard attracts up to 2000 people each year providing an intoxicating mix of music, wine, food and an unforgettable time.  The event organisers Ballandean Estate Wines and the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe have donated almost a million dollars to charity since the events inception.

The Event Program

Opera in the Vineyard offers a number of experiences to suit each guest.

Lunch and Opera: a sumptuous sit down lunch followed by Opera in the open air amphitheatre
Opera and Dinner:  arrive in time for the opera and stay for the Gala Dinner Dance to dance the night away
All Day: arrive for lunch and stay until the band stops playing at the end of the night

Opera Only: Spend 3.5 hours mesmerised by the music, the view and the wine. 

Getting There

Complimentary Buses are the best way to attend the opera, although ample car parking is available adjacent to the winery.

The Bus Routes are as follows:

From Stanthorpe (Route 1) - All along main street starting from Top of the Town Caravan Park. 

Following highway through Severnlea and Glen Aplin and Ballandean. 

From Stanthorpe (Route 2) - From Stanthorpe via Eukey Road to Ballandean.  Also along Mt Tully Road.

From Warwick - All motels along highway starting from Post Office/Warwick Centre

From Ballandean - Cottages on Eukey Road and Jacobsen Road.  Along Pyramids Road to Girraween National Park Rangers Station.

From Tenterfield - All motels along highway from southernmost motel

A Friendship, A Dream

The opera was born of a friendship between Angelo Puglisi and his neighbour, the late David Pugh.  Many times they shared a wine as they watched the sun set over the autumn coloured vineyards and mountains of Sundown National Park and listened to Opera.  As David and Angelo dreamed of sharing this magic with others the seeds of the vision were sown.

Opportunity and Reality

In 1993 the Wesley Hospital was outfitting a lodge where rural patients could reside comfortably whilst they received cancer treatment.  Rotary Clubs were being asked to sponsor rooms and with the recent passing of David Pugh, the opportunity arose to turn the dream into a reality - honouring  David's vision of sharing some of the beautiful things in life whilst helping others.  Thus the first 'Opera at Sunset' was born.

The Partnerships

After the decision was made to stage a 'bush opera' the real work began.  Some energetic and productive partnerships were formed; The Puglisi and Pugh Families, the Wesley Hospital and the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe, the Stanthorpe and Ballandean communities, and the staff of Ballandean Estate Winery all combined to do whatever was needed to progress the Opera.  In 1993 and 1994 Stanthorpes Annas Restaurant provided the evening meal and Robins Catering has looked after patrons since then - Winemakers, Doctors, Cooks, Rotarians, Friends and Music makers all working together.

Community Action

The Opera is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when business and the community work together for a purpose and also decide to have alot of fun along the way!  Stanthorpe Rotarians are an enthusiastic Club of men and women, who with their partners and family delight in organising and running the Opera each year.

The Stanthorpe Shire council has always been willing to promote the district's scenic beauty and horticultural products, and have helped the Opera in many ways - from providing a grand piano each year to shifting landfill when the new site was constructed.  The Wesley Hospital continues to be the main beneficiary of opera proceeds but many other institutions and community organisations are also well supported.

Our Music Makers

The opera organisers were very fortunate to be introduced to two musical friends of the Pughs, Eric Hauff and Mike Evans, early in their planning for the first Opera.  They gladly took on the role of Musical Directors.  Mike assisted us for two years and Eric continues to direct the Opera.  Every year he finds talented and willing artists, coordinates their travel and performances and assists with their choice of repertoire.  Eric has been active in the Queensland music scene since the 1950's.

Eric's artists have been priviledge to have had the accompaniment of international pianist Kevin Power OAM since 1994, the first Opera score being perforemed by Michael Fulcher.  Kevin's only other absence was when a landslide prevented his attending!  Kevin is a distinguished performer having performed throughout Australia and internationally.  Popular choir master for the Qld State and Municipal Choir, Kevin was previously on the teaching staff of the Qld Conservatorium of Music.

Compere Howard Ainsworth completes this dynamic musical team. Howard is the well loved former announcer of ABC radio station Classic 4MBS.  His knowledge of fine music and professionalism add a touch of class to every Opera.  Howard is taking a well-earned break from opera in 2010, but we will see him back in 2011.