A trio of Australia’s leading opera singers will serenade a glamorous gathering at a special event at Brookwater Golf & Country Club on Sunday, September 25th.
With the stunning backdrop of Brookwater Golf & Country Club, the two-hour “Opera On the Green” spectacular features Opera Queensland’s pre-eminent soprano soloist Rebecca Cassidy, as well as long-time Opera Australia stars Tania Ferris, a mezzo-soprano, and Carlos E. Bárcenas, a tenor.
The afternoon of beautiful music, cheese, and fine wine is an occasion for opera lovers and newcomers alike.
“I cannot wait to share this special afternoon with everyone at the beautiful Brookwater Golf & Country Club,” Rebecca said.
“Together with my friends – the superstar voice of Carlos Bárcenas and the sultry and seductive Tania Ferris – we’ll be singing excerpts from Bizet’s “Carmen”, one of the most famous and well-loved operas of all time.”
The session tees off at 4.00pm, guests needing to be seated by 3:45pm.
The operatic affair is the first of its kind, and will form part of the Club’s special “On the Green” series, which includes “Carols On the Green” on December 18, and “Love On the Green”, scheduled for the weekend before Valentine’s Day.
Set in southern Spain, “Carmen” tells the story of the downfall of Don Jose, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the outlaw and wild beauty Carmen, Rebecca explains.
“We’ll also be singing a selection of our favourite songs from masters the likes of Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti and tunes from musical theatre. You won’t want to miss Opera on the Green!”
Rebecca is originally from Townsville, but moved to Brisbane to complete her Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Opera Queensland acknowledged her as their Young Artist of the year in 2020, and jointly in 2021. Although live shows were interrupted by the pandemic, Rebecca sang regularly in the opera company’s “An Aria A Day” series.
Her past operatic performances include Puccini’s “Suor Angelica”, Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress”, and Johann Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus”. She has also featured prominently in concert, oratorio, and symphonic repertoire like Beethoven’s Ninth, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, and Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs.
Tania Ferris has had an illustrious national and international career over the past two decades, performing in Tokyo, London, and New York, in such roles as Flora in Verdi’s “La Traviata”, Marguerite in Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust”, and a suite of symphonic classics from Bach to Mahler.
Colombian-born Carlos E. Bárcenas moved to Melbourne where he pursued opera from a young age, earning a scholarship at the University of Melbourne for his successful Master of Music (Opera Performance) studies.
His impressive extensive career has included classical opera, ballet, works by Mozart, Respighi, Wagner, and Gilbert and Sullivan, and he received a Green Room award for his performance of Steuermann in “Der fliegende Holländer”.
“Opera On The Green” begins at 3:45pm for a 4pm start, on Sunday, September 25. Full-price tickets are $100, available through Eventbrite. Included are a grazing platter of fine cheese and a welcome drink upon arrival. Standard tickets $60. Note: Tables seat six. Seats are limited.
