About 2000 people attended Opera in the Alps at Beechworth golf course on Saturday evening after what director and co-founder Graeme Wall called "a pretty challenging lead-up".

"The night was wonderful, we were thrilled with the response from the people, the audience" he said.

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Indigenous didgeridoo player William Barton's performance was a feature of the program.

"It was almost like he was answered by the cockatoos in the gum trees around, it was just fabulous," Mr Wall said.

Soloists Silvia Colloca and Samuel Dundas gave a humorous nod to current health concerns while performing a romantic duet.

"It usually ends with a fairly passionate kiss at the end, but they decided to rub elbows instead," Mr Wall said.

Many patrons stayed overnight in the region.

"Beechworth itself was buzzing Sunday morning, with the shops all open and selling madly," he said.