How does opera by candlelight next to an historic graveyard under a full blue moon on Halloween or Halloween Eve grab you?
Canberrans will have such an opportunity next Friday and Saturday nights when local opera impresario Carl Rafferty brings all the elements together for what he promises will be a memorable event.
"It's time to have more fun," he declared, with a typical flourish.
As the moon rises on each night, Mr Rafferty will be performing "the most romantic piano music" on the lawns outside St John's Anglican Church in Reid, beside its historic graveyard, the pieces including Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Debussy's Clare de lune and Chopin's Nocturne. Jazz trumpeter Zach Raffan will be performing and Mr Rafferty's daughter Anna will be singing. Saturday has the bonus of also being Halloween.
"Halloween this year is a full moon and it's a blue moon and everything will be moon-lit theme," he said.
But don't come dressed in Halloween costume. This is more about romance than the macabre.
"Dress up to the nines. It's glamorous and formal. People should treat it like a very posh picnic," Mr Rafferty said.
Tables dressed in white linen with candelabra will be provided. Guests bring their own food and tipple and are urged to decorate their own tables. Tables must each have at least six guests. For bookings go to operabycandlelight.net/
