“It’s a way of giving our audiences a second bite at the cherry,” organiser Peta Blyth said.

Peta, who organises the popular opera concert each year with the help of her husband Bill on their farming property “Mimosa” said it’s quite different repertoire to opera, but equally wonderful in its own right.

“We bring some of Australia’s best and most versatile professional singers to town and they love performing for our country audiences. They are keen to spread their wings a bit during the visit with this Lieder concert and it is creating great excitement in the local community.”

The Twilight Recital of German Song at the Inverell Town Hall at 6.15 pm will feature works by Schubert, Brahms, Schumann and Strauss for piano and voice.

The German Consulate and QantasLink are sponsoring the concert with four regular Opera in the Paddock performers, Peta Blyth (soprano), Elizabeth Campbell (mezzo soprano), Shaun Brown (baritone) and David Hibbard (bass) with David Miller (piano). The Consul & his wife General, Guenther and Christiana Gruber are planning to attend both the Lieder Concert and Opera in the Paddock.

On Saturday evening the singers will be joined by Melbourne based tenor James Egglestone performing in the Paddock for the first time. Another exciting program will be offered including works by Handel, the beautiful duets for mezzo soprano and soprano from Bellini’s Norma & Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Martha’s Flotow, La Cenerentola by Rossini and selections from works by Gershwin & Porter.

New England Credit Union will once again offer its support through the sale of tickets in all branches. Other sponsors include the Inverell Shire Council and Inverell Tourism, the Ministry for the Arts through Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay, Allianz insurance, Malachite Resources, the Department of Regional and State Development, QantasLink, Country Energy and the German Consulate.

Tickets are available at the Inverell Visitors Centre 1800 067 626 and on line www.operainthepaddock.com.au and at all New England Credit Union Branches from early January. Coaches will also be running from most regional centres - Glen Innes, Moree, Armidale and Tamworth. For all enquiries phone (02) 6724 8248/1800 240 301.