Opera Bus Timetable

Our Special Artists for 2012 

Ballandean Estate Wines and the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe have been working with partner Opera Queensland to bring you the following artists in a unique performance in the Vineyard.

VIRGILIO MARINO - TENOR, EMMA MATTHEWS - SOPRANO, ANDREW COLLIS - BASS-BARITONE 

   The Event

      Opera In the Vineyard is a charity event held during the May Day long weekend each year in May in the spectacular vineyards of Ballandean Estate Wines.   The event is one of South East Queensland's premier cultural events, and the jewel of the Granite Belt's social calendar. Opera in the Vineyard attracts up to 2000 people each year providing an intoxicating mix of music, wine, food and an unforgettable time.  The event organisers Ballandean Estate Wines and the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe have donated almost a million dollars to charity since the events inception. 

 The Event Program 

Opera in the Vineyard offers a number of experiences to suit each guest:

• Lunch and Opera: a sumptuous sit down lunch followed by Opera in the open air amphitheatre
• Opera and Dinner:  arrive in time for the opera and stay for the Gala Dinner Dance to dance the night away
• All Day: arrive for lunch and stay until the band stops playing at the end of the night
• Opera Only: Spend 3.5 hours mesmerised by the music, the view and the wine. 

Getting There

   Complimentary Buses are the best way to attend the opera, although ample car parking is available adjacent to the winery.

The Bus Routes are as follows:

• From Stanthorpe (Route 1) - All along main street starting from Top of the Town Caravan Park. Following highway through Severnlea and Glen Aplin and Ballandean. 
• From Stanthorpe (Route 2) - From Stanthorpe via Eukey Road to Ballandean.  Also along Mt Tully Road.
• From Warwick - All motels along highway starting from Post Office/Warwick Centre
• From Ballandean - Cottages on Eukey Road and Jacobsen Road.  Along Pyramids Road to Girraween National Park Rangers Station.
• From Tenterfield - All motels along highway from southernmost motel

 A Friendship, A Dream

    The opera was born of a friendship between Angelo Puglisi and his neighbour, the late David Pugh.  Many times they shared a wine as they watched the sun set over the autumn coloured vineyards and mountains of Sundown National Park and listened to Opera.  As David and Angelo dreamed of sharing this magic with others the seeds of the vision were sown.

Opportunity and Reality

   In 1993 the Wesley Hospital was outfitting a lodge where rural patients could reside comfortably whilst they received cancer treatment.  Rotary Clubs were being asked to sponsor rooms and with the recent passing of David Pugh, the opportunity arose to turn the dream into a reality - honouring  David's vision of sharing some of the beautiful things in life whilst helping others.  Thus the first 'Opera at Sunset' was born.

The Partnerships

   The Rotary Club of Stanthorpe and Ballandean Estate Wines have worked together over 19 years to cement Opera in the Vineyard on the cultural calendar of the Granite Belt.

The Opera is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when business and the community work together for a purpose and also decide to have alot of fun along the way!  Stanthorpe Rotarians are an enthusiastic Club of men and women, who with their partners and family delight in organising and running the Opera each year.

Our Music Makers

   Opera Queensland have joined the Opera in the Vineyard team and we are delighted to have them on board.  The 2011 performance (their first) was an outstanding success with standing ovation after standing ovation.  The 2012 event will be our 20 year anniversary and we look forward to enjoying the performance that they have created.