OPERA FROM N.Y.

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 29, 1993                   TAG: 9301280025
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium
OPERA FROM N.Y.
If you can't get to New York, you'll have to wait until New York comes to you.
Hoorah! Your wait is over.
The New York City Opera National Company will return to Radford University for the fourth consecutive year with a performance of Georges Bizet's "Carmen." It's happening Thursday at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium.
The French opera with a Spanish setting is full of color, passion and melodious music. The famous "Toreador" song of Escamillo, the bullfighter, and the "Habanera" of the seductive Carmen are favorite melodies of the opera.
Carmen, played by mezzo-soprano Lori Brown Mirabal, is the fiery and heartless temptress who wins the love of Don Jose, the honorable soldier who throws honor to the wind in his mad desire for Carmen.
Tenor Yuxin Li is making his debut with the New York City Opera in his role as Don Jose. Trained in his native China at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, he made his Washington Opera debut in "The Savage Land."
After wrecking Don Jose's military career, Carmen turns her charms on the popular and handsome toreador Escamillo. In this production, baritone Mark Moliterno plays the bullfighter. Moliterno has performed with the San Francisco Opera.
Admission to Thursday's performance is $12 for adults and $6 for children. Tickets with Radford Unversity identification are $1.
Call 831-5420 for more information.
Eugene Fellin, chairman of the university's music department, will lead a discussion about Bizet's tragic grand opera Tuesday at 7 p.m. in 101 Powell Hall.
It's open to the public and it's free.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB