Rockdale Library’s exhibition honouring Rockdale Opera Company - the oldest opera company in Australia - is now open.
The opera company is marking its 70th anniversary this year and and Bayside Mayor Bill Saravinovski opened the exhibition as part of the celebrations.
Rockdale Opera Chairman Ralph Bott and members of the Rockdale Opera Company Committee welcomed a group of special guests all of whom have been associated with the company over the past seven decades.
Berniece Wilson, a chorus member in Faust, the company's first production which was held in 1948, was joined by a group of performers and friends from the 1970s and 1980s, many of whom were reunited for the first time in many years.
Other guests included Paul Ferris, Andrea Ward, Michele Lansdown and Andrew Leeman, all children of company founders, producers and musical directors.
The attendees were given a sneak preview of the exhibition which displays photos, props, costumes, accessories and memorabilia dating back to the Company's beginnings in 1948.
The exhibition also includes four huge mosaic photos on the ground floor and an interactive photo display on Level 2 which enables the viewer to enjoy a myriad of historical images and documents pertaining to the Opera Company.
The other half of the exhibition is on display at Mascot Library and George Hanna Memorial Museum, located at 2 Hatfield Street Mascot, until July 7 and will consist of larger memorabilia as well as posters, costumes and photos.
Part of this celebratory year for the company includes a 70th Anniversary Gala Concert in November, set to celebrate music performed by the company over the past decades.
It will feature up-and-coming artists and the members of the Rockdale Opera Company Ensemble.
The Company is also seeking the involvement of as many past performers as possible.
If you, or someone you know would like to be involved, please email rocopinfo@tpg.com.au.
Bookings are now open for the Gala at here.
To further celebrate this birthday milestone, Rockdale Opera Company has also produced a book, Seventy Years at Rockdale Opera Company – A Snapshot 1948 to 2018, containing 70 fascinating pages of photos, facts, stories, reminiscences, tributes and statistics.
The book is available to purchase for $25.00 (plus $5.00 postage/handling within Australia).
All proceeds from the book will go to back to the Opera Company.
To purchase a book, email rocopinfo@tpg.com.au.