Musical Arts Society tackles opera and Broadway tunes

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 10:34 a.m.

What: "Bizet to Broadway."

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Community College of Southern Nevada's Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave.

Tickets: $12; $9 for seniors, students, military and disabled.

Information: (702) 895-2787.

When planning the final concert of the season, Douglas Peterson, musical director for the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, must have been feeling generous. Very generous, actually.

In "Bizet to Broadway" being performed this weekend at Community College of Southern Nevada's Nicholas Horn Theater, the society will present selections from Verdi, Puccini, Bizet and Mozart operas before switching gears to pay tribute to the late, great composer Richard Rodgers, whose 100th birthday is being celebrated this year.

"Voyagers Chorus" from Mozart's "Indomeneo," "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" from Verdi's "Nabucco" and "Humming Chorus" from Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" are among the opera choruses that are being performed by the Musical Arts Society. Selections from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals "Oklahoma," "Carousel," "State Fair" and "Sound of Music" will also be performed.

Guest soloist and mezzo soprano Juline Barol-Gilmore will perform "Habanera" from French composer Georges Bizet's "Carmen" and "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific."

Other guest soloists include mezzo sopranos Michele Thielen and Pat Newell; tenors Dick DeFranco, Robert Peterson and Craig Thomas; and baritone John A. Smith.

Additionally, the local jazz group Vocalicity will perform a medley of music by Rogers and Hart.

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society is a nonprofit organization that presents choral and orchestral works. This is its 39th season.

"There really is something for everyone here," Peterson said of the concert. "It will be a wonderful concert for nostalgia buffs as well as though who enjoy the opera."com