Fifth Street School to host two concerts

By Kristen Peterson

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 | 5:32 p.m.

The Historic Fifth Street School has become somewhat of a cultural hub since re-opening in fall 2008 after an extensive refurbishing. The 1936 building at 401 S. Fourth St., has become a common gathering place for theatrical performances, recitals and arts group mixers. Aaron Betsky, director of the Cincinnati Art Museum, has lectured there; Swiss artist Christoph Draeger has presented there; and U.S. poet laureate, Kay Ryan recited there.

But nothing says high-minded revelry like four guys in bow ties, a killer pianist and a gaggle of mandolins.

On December 19, the City of Las Vegas will present Tenors For You, a two-hour concert of classical, traditional and popular holiday music, featuring tenors Michael Rodrigues, Mark Thomsen, Marco Varela and Alfonse Andersen.

Pianist Barbara Riske, who performed internationally before joining UNLV's music faculty and the Las Vegas Philharmonic, will accompany the tenors for the concert, which is free and open to the public. The program also includes the Las Vegas Mandoliers ensemble.

On December 21 the Nevada School of the Arts, which resides in the school, will present its second-annual alumni recital featuring violinist Jeremy Rhizor and pianist Albina Asryan performing works by Brahms, Dvorak, Sarasate, Wieniawski and Paganini.