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Did you know that the opera composers Mozart, Rossini, Offenbach, and Donizetti collaborated to write The Billy Goats Gruff? Neither did they! John Davies cleverly re-purposed music from world-famous operas to tell the familiar Grimm Brothers story of three billy goat friends whose after-school games are spoiled when a bully blocks the bridge, preventing them from going home. Using what they learned about bullies from their moms, dads, and teachers, the trio prevails and even teaches a lesson about forgiveness and friendship. Free performances include May 10 and May 12 at Whitney Library and Clark County Library. The three friends and their nemesis find ample opportunity to sing and cavort entertainingly, and in this production, Grimm’s familiar, humble characters are married to operatic singing of the highest order. These family-friendly performances appeal to children of all ages, and indeed, many regular opera patrons also show up in force for these adaptations. Young families learn about the operatic art form and its universal appeal by presenting classical music in such a delightful fashion, followed by an audience meet-and-greet. Along with the timeless music, The Billy Goats Gruff imparts an uplifting message. When the goat Lucy has seen her beloved doll, Lucie D. Lammermoor, snatched from a safe hiding place by the meanie, Osmin; she at first feels helpless to cross the bridge to retrieve her “friend.” But she refuses to abandon her and won’t leave her alone to go for help along with her friends, Ernesto and Dandini. Instead, she confronts the bully Osmin, and prevails by inadvertently pushing him into the creek below. Immediately concerned for his well-being, Lucy shows her would-be adversary kindness by asking if he’s okay. He responds in kind by asking if she’s okay. By the time Ernesto and Dandini return with help, Lucy is able to introduce a soggy, forlorn ex-bully as their new friend. The moral: Kindness is contagious. Adaptor Davies seized on an artistic opportunity to present the concept that acceptance of others unlike us is an important contemporary subject and, more importantly, that our attitude toward others who are “different” is a lesson we learn when we are young. Athena Mertes (Lucy) is well known by OLV audiences for such soprano roles as Zelda in Mack and McGuire’s The Ghosts of Gatsby, and Silvia in last fall’s World Premiere of Fowler and Flack’s Behold the Man. Soprano Lisa Elliott (Ernesto) has been heard as Barcarole the Dog in  Opera Las Vegas’ The Bremen Town Musicians, as well as a featured soloist in Linda Lister’s State of Grace at UNLV Opera Theater.  Baritone Chase Gutierrez (Dandini) is remembered for playing the jailer in OLV’s Tosca, and Marchese D’Obigny in last season’s La traviata. Bass Norman Espinoza (Osmin), was last seen by OLV audiences as a soloist in Holiday on Broadway, as well as Voices Raised for Vets. The Opera Las Vegas Youth chorus as the friendly Woodland Animals is rounding out the cast. The production is directed by Dr. Linda Lister, a renowned soprano, teacher, composer and author.  As a singer, she was featured in OLV’s West Coast Premiere of Mack and McGuire’s The Ghosts of Gatsby, and she has directed numerous successful productions as head of UNLV Opera Theater, such as Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and most recently, Rossini’s Count Ory. Performances are scheduled for 6 p.m. May 10 at 6 p.m. at Whitney Library, 5175 E Tropicana Ave., and 3 p.m. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. No tickets are required for the performances, and general seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit  www.operalasvegas.com.

The Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center will host a free art exhibit and reception in recognition of Cinco de Mayo on Friday, May 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. with Mexican artists Olegario Hernández Mendoza, Alejandro Vera Guzman, and Isabel Mendoza. The event will feature cultural performances and food. While free to attend, one may RSVP by calling (702) 455-4259 or emailing DistrictD@ClarkCountyNV.gov. The event is sponsored by Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II, the Federacion de Poblanos en Las Vegas, the Mexican Consulate, Escaramuza Charras Colibries de Nevada, and Federacion Hidalguense en Las Vegas. The gallery is free to visit and is located in downtown Las Vegas at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. The exhibit will be open to the public only on Friday, May 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. Olegario Mendoza is from Pinotepa de Don Luis Distrito de Jamiltepec, Oaxaca. Dedicated to his craft, Mendoza began doing traditional designs on his gourds, but soon felt the need to give them his own label. So at age 19, he left Pinotepa to learn Spanish. He then entered an art school in Mexico City, where he learned printmaking, sculpture, oil painting, watercolor, and murals. Mendoza returned to his village to apply the techniques he learned with gourds, combining colors, inks, gold leaf, silver and copper. The iconography of Mendoza’s recreations features both flora and fauna in traditional and contemporary designs, mainly geometric. His work possesses great creativity and innovation and has even been turned into jewelry adorned with gold leaf, silver, and copper. He also produces napkin rings, cups, balls, key chains, necklaces, rattles, souvenirs for weddings, and more. Guzman will share his creative mask works, which reflect the traditions and culture of Santiago Juxtlahuaca in Oaxaca, Mexico. Isabel Mendoza creates enchanting works of art by painting with straws. Following the procedures developed by her grandfather, she uses natural wild straw to create scenes of Mexican life. Among the subjects of her paintings are bullfighters, mariachis, churches, and landscapes. Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect, and accountability.  With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county. It provides extensive regional services to 2.4 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2023). Included are the nation’s 7th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services, and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.

Photos by Virginia Trudeau #virginiatrudeauphotography Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) will present Swan Lake, the enchanted fable of ill-fated love, at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts from May 3-5. Timeless, iconic, and beloved, Swan Lake is arguably one of the greatest ballets of all time, an achingly beautiful fairytale that is a must-see for ballet fans and newcomers alike. Set to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, the choreography by Ben Stevenson O.B.E is classical ballet at its heartbreaking and glorious, a love story that is both symbolic and intimate, filled with emotion and humanity. Transfixed from the opening bars of Tchaikovsky’s score, audiences will treasure every majestic moment before them in a work that is as magnificent as it is unforgettable. For more information about The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, visit www.TheSmithCenter.com and follow on Facebook @ TheSmithCenter and Instagram @SmithCenterLV, X (Former Twitter) @ SmithCenterLV and YouTube. Nevada Ballet Theatre is a performing arts organization that has been a beloved community treasure in Las Vegas for over 50 years. NBT has a solid focus on dance education, a versatile company of professional dancers, and a growing repertoire of outstanding ballet and dance productions. With an eye on the future and a reverence for its past, NBT looks forward to continuing to present excellent performances to the Las Vegas community. For more info, visit nevadaballet.org, and follow on Facebook @ NevadaBalletTheatre, Instagram @ NVBallet and X (Formerly Twitter) @ NVBallet. Nevada Ballet Theatre will present Swan Lake at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts May 3-5. For tickets and more info, visit nevadaballet.org/swanlake. As a courtesy to our ticket holders, no children under 5 years of age are admitted to the performances.