Opera in the Arboretum

30/05/2025

05/04/2025

More pics from the day!

02/04/2025

Thank you to all our amazing sponsors for Opera in the Arboretum 2025.

01/04/2025

What a magical Opera in the Arboretum - thank you all for making it a special one!

Here are some shots of the day from our photographer Lisa Haymes. More to come...

30/03/2025

24/03/2025

The fabulous mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell set to take the stage at Pearl Beach Arboretum on March 29!

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21/03/2025

Pianist Kate Johnson from Opera Australia joins us once again on March 29!

Kate has worked extensively in Australia and internationally with some of Australia’s finest singers, and is highly regarded as a collaborative pianist, répétiteur, and vocal coach. She is currently a member of Opera Australia’s Music Staff.

She commenced her work with Opera Australia in 1995, after studies in piano, harpsichord and opera in Sydney, London, Paris, and the USA. In her long association with the company, Kate has assisted in the preparation of an extensive range of the operatic repertoire. She has performed harpsichord continuo for much of Opera Australia’s Baroque and Classical repertoire, and has acted as prompter and Children’s Chorus Master for numerous productions.

Kate has worked and performed with companies including Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Chamber Choirs, Gondwana Choirs, and The Song Company. She has toured Australia as a recitalist, and the Baltics with Gondwana Chorale. In the 2022 Sydney Fringe Festival, she performed with soprano Jane Ede in Pasatieri’s Before Breakfast, exploring accessible opera.

As a vocal coach, Kate enjoys working with both established and emerging singers. She was a coach at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for many years, assisting young singers in role preparation and encouraging them to develop their vocal style and technique by embracing the connections between language, musical style, and dramatic intention.

20/03/2025

Check out this delightful interview with virtuoso violinist Madeleine Easton ahead of her performance for the Coronation. Madeleine is our special guest artist for Opera in the Arboretum 2025 and we can't wait to hear her play!

Click this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh3z3LRqFtM

15/03/2025

We welcome acclaimed violinist Madeleine Easton to Opera in the Arboretum as our special guest artist. Madeleine performs Bach's Violin Concerto in E major BWV 1042 (1st Movement) with the Central Coast Chamber Orchestra, 'The Lark Ascending' by Vaughan Williams and a tango by Argentine composer Piazzolla with Sally-Anne Russell and Kate Johnson.

Madeleine is an established star on the international stage known for her versatility and expertise in the world of violin playing. She performs at the highest level both in Europe, the USA and Australia, appearing as both soloist, concertmaster and director of some of the worlds most respected ensembles and orchestras.

Madeleine studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she graduated with first class honours. Along side her degree, she studied baroque violin with Lucinda Moon. She was awarded the Sydney Conservatorium Concerto Prize performing Bartok's 2nd violin concerto, and was a finalist in both the 1999 Richard Goldner Concerto Competition and 1998 Gisbourne International Music Competition. In 2000, she won a place at the Royal College of Music studying with Dr Felix Andrievsky graduating with distinction, winning the String Prize for most outstanding performer.

Madeleine is well known as a director and concert master. Engagements include the Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid, the Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra of Lisbon, The English Baroque Soloists under Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, The Kings Consort, The Gabrieli Consort, London Orchestra da Camera, Florilegium, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Orchestra Revolutionaire et Romantique. She held the position of concertmaster of The Hanover Band from 2006-2017.

Her special talent of combining both period and modern styles of violin playing has led her to form a special relationship with the Royal Academy of Music in London directing the Bach Cantata Series since it's inception in 2009 and the Baroque Orchestra, the first year String Orchestra and the Modern Instrument Period Orchestra.

Madeleine is proud to be part of the internationally acclaimed Australian World Orchestra. She is also the artistic director and founder Australia's newest dedicated Bach ensemble, 'Bach Akademie Australia'.

Madeleine plays on a 1682 Giovanni Grancino violin