The East Gippsland woman later came to know they were fire brigade volunteers and locals heading to the burning Beechworth IGA.

“We could smell the smoke and thought that was odd,” she said.

“We had no idea until Graeme (Wall) made the announcement – it was such a sad thing to happen.”

There were no distractions this year though for the crowd pushing 4500 at the Beechworth Golf Course.

All eyes were on Crombie as she performed O qante volte – I Capuleti e i Motecchi, a piece from the opera rendition of Romeo and Juliet. 

“It’s the balcony scene; Juliet has just been told she’s going to marry her cousin,” she said.

“She pleads with God to be able to marry her true love.

“I love the ability to really draw the audience into what I’m feeling.”

It was one of three solo performances from Opera Scholar of the Year finalists – Shakira Dugan and Cleo Lee-McGowan were also vying for the title.

Opera co-director Graeme Wall said choosing just one singer would be tough.

“Guy (Noble) has an input, Margot (Cory-Wall) and I have input – it’s a hard decision, and that will happen this week,” he said.

“One of the most exciting things about this is to see the progress of singers, our scholars in particular.”

Tenor Shanul Sharma, who moved from India to Wagga in 2002, was one performer who has shone in recent times.

He gave credit to the Opera in the Alps as a boost to his career and thanked supporters who helped him get to the Wales International Academy of Voice.

“I had to crowd-fund my way to get there and many of the people who helped out are in the audience today,” he said.

“You know who you are – thank you for the very bottom of my heart.”

Mr Wall also gave tribute to a number of special supporters, including Tim Fischer who has ended his patronage after 19 years.

“(Bridge Road Brewer owner) Ben Kraus’s grandma is here tonight celebrating her 90^th birthday,” he said.

“I also heard today of another lady who comes every year from Melbourne, by train to Wangaratta and then by bus to Beechworth.

“I think her name is Francis and she is 96.

“I hope she’s hearing this and enjoying everything.”

Conductor Guy Noble swapped his baton for a lightsaber half-way into the 21st event.

Jedis tore through the crowd and fought to Duel of the Fates – The Phantom Menace, the Alpha Sinfonia orchestra captivating every last audience member.

It was an exhilarating start to the second interval, but opera buffs were even more excited to see the return of Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Alexandra Flood to the stage.

Rhodes was a peasant vying for the attention of Flood in an intimate duet met by whistles from the crowd.

It was a return to the high country for both stars, with Flood making the trip from Europe especially for the event.

“Ten years ago, I joined the scholars and fives years ago I was named scholar of the year along with Kate Amos,” she said.

“It is such a pleasure to be back here in Beechworth.”