By Parker McKenzie
Throughout March, the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria is holding garden recitals in Sassafras at the historic The Knowe homestead.
On 19, 20, 26 and 27 of March at 2pm, the theatrical organisation will be hosting an afternoon of Victorian and Edwardian parlour songs with the company’s best soloists.
The Knowe owner and member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Robert Ray said he first joined the society in 2002 and bought the homestead in 1994.
“We started doing this about 10 years ago, having recitals first of all in the house which we can fit about 50 people in the house. It’s built into the garden, which seemed to be a better place to be,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s Gilbert and Sullivan, sometimes it’s a similar sort of repertoire. We have people saying we come every year, it’s now a thing on their calendar.”
Gilbert and Sullivan were a theatrical partnership between dramatist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan between 1871 and 1896. They collaborated on 14 operas, including the Pirates of Penzance.
Mr Roy said if the performance is hit by weather, it will move into the homestead.
“Last year was nerve-racking. It was scheduled for the garden, but we were rained out on two of the four performances,” he said.
“We couldn’t do anything inside of course for the last few years because of Covid but now those restrictions have lifted if we have a rainy day on our performances this year, the concert will move inside the house, which needs quite a bit of rearranging of all the furniture.”
The performances will see eight cast members performing, with around 50 people able to attend.
Mr Roy said the performance isn’t a complete opera, but instead highlights of their favourites.
“It’s delightful, people can bring their picnic lunch and we have a bar where they can buy champagne, wine or orange juice,” he said.
“It’s really lovely to have an outdoor concert, which is a bit rare these days. I think it’s a very Melbourne Dandenongs experience.”
Attendees are invited to attend from 12.30pm with the concert starting at 2pm. The Knowe is located at 4 Clarkmont Rd Sassafras.
Tickets for the event can be found at www.gsov.org.au
