The Clarence Valley Orchestra (CVO) performed in Cobar last week along with concerts in Narrabri, Broken Hill and Lightning Ridge as part of their Outback Pops tour.
The Cobar event was hosted by Cobar Arts Council and the Cobar District Concert Band (who provided the warm up music).
Cobar Arts Council president, Lillian Simpson, described the concert as “phenomenal”.
She said the performance of world-renowned Australian soprano, Mirusia Louwerse, known for her performances with Andre Rieu, was a real highlight of the concert for her.
“It was really wonderful.
“Mirusia was excellent,” Lillian said.
She said the Ward Oval pavilion was at near capacity and was a good test of the venue’s acoustics.
Local music teacher, Judy Toomey, who is also a member of the Cobar District Concert Band, said there weren’t “enough superlatives to describe how good the concert was!”.
“I don’t normally get the chance to sit back and listen to the music (normally because I’m involved in it in some capacity), but last night the world stood still for a couple of hours,” Judy said after the concert.
She said it was “some of the most moving, joyful, toe-tapping music” she had ever heard.
“I laughed, I cried, I sang, I clapped and I got lost in the atmosphere and tangled up in the swirling colours and pictures that the orchestra and Mirusia painted for us,” Judy said.
State Member for Barwon Roy Butler attended the orchestra’s Narrabri concert and reports it deservedly received a standing ovation from a very enthusiastic audience.
“The concert was a mixture of show tunes by the likes of Leonard Bernstein and Cole Porter, along with big band music from the 40s and pop hits from the 60s and a rousing patriotic Peter Allen number to finish the night.
“This remarkable orchestra was formed in 2014 by Greg Butcher, who is the artistic director and conductor,” Mr Butler said.
“The musicians volunteer their time to perform and raise money for charity.”
The money raised from the Outback Pops concerts will go to the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
“I sincerely hope that there will be more performances by the orchestra, and Mirusia, in Barwon in the future,” Mr Butler said.
Members of the orchestra have also expressed a wish to return to the outback for more concerts after they received very warm welcomes at each venue.
