OPERA AND PIANO RECITAL FEB. 16

Louisa Panou-Takahashi and James Sifferman, faculty members at Southeast Missouri State University, will give a joint recital Thursday, Feb. 16, at Old St. Vincent's Church.

Panou-Takahashi, an assistant professor of voice at the university and artistic director of the Operafestival di Roma, will perform songs by Schubert, Ravel and Rodrigo.

Panou-Takahashi has performed extensively as an opera singer and recitalist in Italy, Germany, Austria, Greece and the U.S.

Sifferman, an associate professor of music at the university and the winner of a number of piano competitions, will play compositions by Liszt and Rachmaninoff.

His solo debut was at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1988, and in 1990 he released the CD "Sifferman Live, Volume I: Piano Music of Franz Liszt."

Both Panou-Takahashi and Sifferman will perform at the Operafestival di Roma this summer. The festival is an educational organization offering musicians from all nations the opportunity to study and perform in Rome.

A number of Southeast students also are expected to participate in the festival this year.

Admission to the recital is $4 for adults and $2 for seniors and students. Admission is free with a university ID.