Classic composers highlight ‘Opera’ lineup

Friday, Oct. 26, 2001 | 4:19 a.m.

In a move designed to broaden opera's appeal to Las Vegans, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will present "Opera Goes Prime Time" Saturday at the Beam Music Center Recital Hall.

The program will include an array of melodies that producers say should be recognizable to fans who are more familiar with the inside of a movie theater than an opera house.

"We used to have a good core of support, but it has dwindled in recent times," Paul Kreider, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts, said. "I'm hoping our concert can keep people interested."

Selections will include songs from "The Barber of Seville" by Rossini, "Carmen" and "The Pearl Fishers" by Bizet, "Rigoletto" by Verdi, "Lucia Di Lammermoor" by Donizetti, "Tosca" by Puccini and "Lakme" by Delibes.

Kreider said opera and other local cultural endeavors face formidable competition from the entertainment industry in Las Vegas.

Saturday's event will include performances by UNLV graduate students, special guest Douglas Ahlstedt and by Kreider.

Kreider, a baritone, was with the Lyric Opera of Chicago for six seasons, and was also the principal baritone with the Landestheater Salzburg of Austria for three years.

"I will perform a couple of things with Douglas and then take a back seat," Kreider said.

Ahlstedt, a tenor, has performed in opera houses and concert halls in the United States, Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.

In addition to being an international performer, Ahlstedt is an associate professor of voice at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He specializes in teaching vocal health and collaborates with the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center to promote proper care of the voice.

Ahlstedt earned degrees in music education from the State University of New York at Fredonia and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

In addition to performing at UNLV, Ahlstedt will spend a week on campus as an artist in residence, working with students.

Funds from "Opera Goes Prime Time" will be used to help support the university's opera program. Kreider said he hopes the performance will attract a broad audience of music fans who will return to hear more UNLV opera productions.

"We're hoping that by doing a concert of operatic tunes they recognize, it will inspire them to come back for more," Kreider said.

The production is a cooperative effort between the university and the Southern Nevada Opera Association.

"We try to do something every year to spark a little more public interest in opera," Kreider said.