For the past few years, I’ve attended Opera in the Valley on the first Saturday night of November, and maestro Glenn Amer never fails to deliver a stellar evening of music.

This year promises another triumph, as Amer presents a complete comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - a treat for local opera lovers.

“I absolutely love being involved in Jamberoo’s Opera in the Valley,” Amer says.

“My first appearance was in 1999 and I’m still here. This year we have something different for you. For the first time ever - a complete short opera by Mozart performed ‘concert style’ in English. The opera is ‘Lo Sposo Deluso’ (‘The Deluded Bridegroom’).”

Tenor Matthew Reardon returns to Jamberoo with his distinctive stage presence and golden tone. A graduate of the Wales International Academy of Voice, Reardon made his mark in the ground-breaking Indigenous opera Pecan Summer and has toured widely with Opera Australia in Madame Butterfly, Carmen and La Bohème.

He has also appeared as the “Master of Ceremonies” in The Duel and as the “Impresario” in Mozart’s Der Schaulspieldirektor. His recent credits include the Verdi Requiem at the Adelaide Festival in collaboration with Zurich Opera and Ballet.

Baritone Ian Warwick, who holds a Master of Music from the Australian Institute of Music, brings his versatility as performer, director, and writer.

A founding member of the independent company Operantics, Warwick’s creative range spans Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, Fleming’s Nolo Me Tangere, and the Poe-inspired cabaret Grotesque and Arabesque.

Soprano Tessa Hayward is quickly making her mark on Australia’s operatic scene. Trained at the Queensland Conservatorium under Professor Janet Delpratt, in 2018 she was awarded runner up and the inaugural Dame Elizabeth Murdoch prize at the Herald Sun Aria Final and won the encouragement award in the finals of the Limestone Coast Italian Aria Competition.

Glen Amer.

Her credits include Turandot with Opera Australia and the soprano solo in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the St James Choir.

Countertenor Russell Harcourt brings his distinctive artistry to the program. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium and the Royal Academy of Music, he has performed the title role in Gluck’s Orfeo (West Australian Opera), Messiah with the Adelaide Symphony, and Alcina with National Opera Canberra.

His career has also taken him to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Brisbane Baroque (Helpmann Award nominee). Harcourt’s expressive range and crystalline tone continue to earn him acclaim across Australia and abroad.

Amer – as pianist, tenor, conductor - anchors the evening. A prodigious talent since childhood, Amer studied at the Sydney Conservatorium before furthering his training in London with Geoffrey Parsons and Erich Vietheer.

Known for his flair at the piano and his Mario Lanza-style vocals, Amer’s performances span from Bach to Bacharach, and from opera to cabaret. His warmth and showmanship ensure audiences leave smiling.

Behind the scenes, the success of this annual event is due in large part to CWA Jamberoo’s Opera in the Valley organising committee coordinator Cathy Delhaas, along with loyal CWA members such as Jenny Judd and Sue Good, who have been involved since the event’s inception in 1997.

Tessa Haywood.

Sonya Potts’ talents ensure the supper spread is as memorable as the music.

Delhaas says: “I have been in Jamberoo CWA for 22 years and have been involved in Opera in the Valley for about 15 years. It has grown into a very special event. I’m so lucky to have a great committee.”

The performance takes place on 1 November, starting at 8pm at the Jamberoo School of Arts, a comfortable venue with superb acoustics - the artists don’t need microphones! Tickets are now on sale through Elders Real Estate Jamberoo at $65 each. Phone: 4236 0891.