Opera in the Arboretum returns to Pearl Beach

The Pearl Beach Arboretum is once again set to ring out with glorious music and song on March 11.

Opera in the Arboretum will present acclaimed UK bass baritone Rodney Earl Clarke who comes to Australia from London’s West End where he is currently performing in Les Misérables.

He will be singing with his mezzo-soprano wife Louise Callinan who has sung in opera houses around the world including Paris Opera.

Australian based opera stars who will perform include award winning soprano Lorina Gore who has recently performed the lead in La Traviata with

Opera Queensland and tenor John Longmuir who is a principal with Opera Australia.

Joining the singers will be 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 will include 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.

The event will also celebrate the Golden Age of Music Theatre with the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

It will be held in the open air at Crommelin Native Arboretum at Pearl Beach on March 11 from 3-5.30pm with audience members asked to bring their own picnic and chair.

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.

Family history seminar at East Gosford

Central Coast Family History Society (FHS) will host a Royal Australian Historical Society Family History (RAHS) Seminar on Saturday, March 4, from 10am-4pm in the Lions Community Hall at East Gosford.

The theme for the seminar will be researching Australian land records and discovering where to find information about convicts transported from England and Ireland.

A RAHS spokesperson said approximately 12 per cent of all convicts transported to Australia were Irish and Senior Vice-President Christine Yeats would highlight resources available to learn more about convicts transported from Ireland to Australia at the seminar.

Also speaking will be Adjunct Associate Professor Carol Liston, a historian who specialises in the history of early NSW.

As more Australians try to trace their convict ancestors, much data exists in British record offices to provide a more fulsome story.

The seminar will also feature a talk that will show how to research the crimes of convict women using English courts records.

For more information and bookings, go to the RAHS website: https://www.rahs. org.au/event/central-coastregional-seminar-2023/.

Source: Media release, Feb 20 Central Coast Family History Society