STUDENTS PREPARE `EVENING OF LIGHT OPERA'

The music department at Southeast Missouri will present "An Evening of Light Opera" on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Academic Hall.

Students of the opera workshop at Southeast, directed by Louisa Panou-Takahaski, will perform scenes from Offenbach's "Bluebeard," the relentless husband who murders his wives in an attempt to quench his thirst for new brides.

The first part of the program will also include scenes from Strauss' operetta "Vienna Life," and songs from "Kiss Me Kate." The second part of the program will feature a one-act opera, "A Muskrat Lullaby" by Edward Barnes. The plot involves a quartet of opera singers at odds with their audience. The opera singers are a bird, spider and toad, and their audience consists of hungry alligators.

"A Muskrat Lullaby" will also tour local elementary schools, including May Greene School on April 24, the Early Childhood Center on May 1 and St. Vincent's Elementary on May 8.

Panou-Takahashi, who is an assistant professor of music at Southeast, will also present a vocal recital Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Academic Auditorium.

Accompanying Takahashi will be Gary Miller, associate professor of music on piano; Robert Fruehwald, assistant professor of music on flute and Chadie Fruehwald, harp.

The program includes works from Handel, Donaudi, Schubert and Faure, and three new compositions by Fruehwald, "The House Carpenter," "Old McDonald" and "The Riddle."

Takahashi was born in Cyprus and raised in Italy. She earned an undergraduate degree from St. Cecelia Conservatory in Rome, a master's degree from Kent State University and doctoral degree from Florida State University.

She will perform at the Rome Festival this summer.