Arts group revisits works of Verdi

Friday, July 26, 2002 | 9:01 a.m.

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Winchester Community Center Theater, 3130 S. Mcleod Drive.

Tickets: $15.

Information: 658-6741.

When it comes to assembling a repertoire of Guiseppe Verdi's works, there is plenty to choose from.

In his long life, the Italian composer created 28 operas. He is considered the greatest Italian composer of the 19th century.

To celebrate works from nine of his operas, the Performing Arts Society of Nevada's Las Vegas Lyric Opera Company will present "An Afternoon With Verdi" Saturday at Winchester Community Center.

The program will showcase a variety of some of Verdi's most famous arias, duets and quartets, from "O Patria Mia" from "Aida" to "Libiamo," the drinking song from "La Traviata."

"What we tried to do with Verdi is get together an all-star hit parade," said Thomas Gallagher, co-founder of the Performing Arts Society of Nevada. "These are what you call the war horses, the big showcase arias."

In addition to "Aida" and "La Traviata," the repertoire includes arrangements from "Il trovatore," "Rigoletto," "Don Carlos," "Simon Boccanegra," "La Forza del Destino" and "Otello."

Gallagher, who arranged the repertoire, said that he wanted to present the more popular of Verdi's arias, duets and ensembles using the five voices.

The program will feature soprano Lee Hughes, tenor Marco Varela, mezzo-soprano Deborah Fleischer, baritone Gregory Pearson, soprano Betsy Ann Fiore, tenor Eric Fleischer and bass Anthony Gavin. Pianist Voltaire Verzosa will accompany the singers.

The Performing Arts Society of Nevada was created nearly 12 years ago as a way to educate and entertain the community by introducing the arts to patrons who would normally be intimidated by them.

In addition to the Las Vegas Lyric Opera Company, the Performing Arts Society of Nevada oversees the National Globe Theatre and Brown Bag Concerts.

"An Afternoon with Verdi" is part of a series in which the Las Vegas Lyric Opera Company highlights noted composers.

In the spring it featured the works of Puccini. It plans to present the works of Mozart after the first of the year.

Highlighting Verdi is always a joy, Gallagher said.

"He showed everyone how to do it."