LYSTER Opera Company has made a stunning debut on the Inglewood Town Hall stage.
Saturday night’s performance of the Friedrich Von  Flotow opera Martha attracted a near-capacity audience for the opening night of the company’s touring season.
People travelled from Melbourne, Bendigo and across the Loddon to see the 14-strong cast show command of the forgotten opera that director Jamie Moffat said deserved a revival.
Among the audience were Anne and Brad Miles, spending the weekend at their holiday home in Boort. 
“We’ve made it a real art weekend visiting the art show in Pyramid Hill, and buying a painting, and then coming on down to Inglewood for the opera,” he said. “We love staying in the Loddon and there’s always something happening.”
Saturday night’s performance saw the cast led by Katy Turbitt in the lead role quickly adapted to the new stage, projecting and articulating every word and nuance of the opera first performed in 1844.
Lyster Opera has previously given its Loddon performances at Tarnagulla. However, Martha required a larger stage.
Dunolly’s Rachel Buckley, in character as Queen Victoria, gave a regal welcome to the audience before the curtain was raised.