A celebration of country music and opera is on the cards for music enthusiasts thanks to a collaboration between Richmond Valley Council and Opera Queensland.

Are You Lonesome Tonight will be performed at the Casino Civic Hall on Tuesday, 6 May, as part of Opera Queensland’s national tour.

The show explores some of the great music of both genres, as three singers and a musician take you on a trip from Puccini and Verdi to Hank Williams and Dolly Parton.

The Richmond Valley has a great affinity with opera, successfully hosting nine touring performances over the past two decades, including:

• 2003 - Carmen
• 2004 - Pagliacci (The Clowns)
• 2005 - Die Fledermaus (the Revenge of the Bat)
• 2006 - Don Giovanni
• 2009 - The Magic Flute
• 2013 - Die Fledermaus (the Revenge of the Bat)
• 2014 - Madama Butterfly
• 2016 - The Mikado
• 2017 - The Barber of Seville

The 88-year-old iconic Casino Civic Hall has undergone an extensive upgrade over the past several years. This included replacement of the main hall floor and installation of under-stage flooring, the fixing of wall-mounted fans, restoration of the Art Deco lighting and other electrical upgrades. This was made possible thanks to a $152,000 grant from the Stronger Country Communities Fund.

(Inside the Casino Civic Hall. Photo: supplied)

Council also received $208,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Cultural Fund for internal painting, further stage flooring work, and the purchase of new chairs.

Mayor Robert Mustow said tickets for this unique show were selling quickly and were an opportunity to see top-class performers in one of the area’s great performance spaces.

Cr Mustow said there was banquet-style seating in the Casino Civic Hall, and he was looking forward to the performance.

“With a show of this calibre, I expect there will be great interest not only from our area but from across the region,” he said.

“Council has always encouraged events which feature the arts and culture and is proud to sponsor this show.”

Patrons are encouraged to BYO refreshments and beverages.

Tickets are $12 and are available at Tickets available for Opera Queensland show - Richmond Valley Council or through Council’s administration centres in Casino and Evans Head.

For more information on the show, visit https://www.oq.com.au/whats-on/are-you-lonesome-tonight-national-tour/.