Arts scene (4/17/09)

Taste for Spain

The UAA Opera Ensemble and Anchorage Opera present highlights of popular Spanish operettas -- or zarzuelas. Excerpts from works such as "El Barbero de Sevilla" by Gimenez, "La Pentenera" by Torroba, and "La Revoltosa" by Chapi are featured, along with the entire "La Gran Via" by Federico Chueca, in which NIMBY-oid citizens go nuts when they hear that a new thoroughfare will obliterate their old, small streets. The words may be Spanish, but the situation is pure Anchorage. Performances are 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Fine Arts Building recital hall. Tickets are $15 at centertix.net or at the door.

MUSIC

Happy Birthday

a la Russe

The Russian American Singers present songs, stories and dances to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Alaska Statehood. They'll sing liturgical music by Rachmaninoff plus folk songs from Russia, the Lower 48, Japan, Korea and wherever else people called home before they called themselves Alaskans. Trot your troika over to the Wild Berry Theater, 5225 Juneau St. (across from Sourdough Mining Co., off International Airport Road), 7:30 p.m. tonight or Saturday. Tickets for "Our Home Alaska" are $30 at the door, $25 if you go online to centertix.net, or stop by Style of Russia souvenir store, 5th Avenue Mall and get yours in advance.

POTTERY

Philanthropic platters

Homer's Bunnell Arts Center has long hosted a fundraiser in which volunteers make and decorate plates that are sold to art lovers who've grown tired of eating off the floor. Top potters Ahna Iredale, Lisa Wood, Ruby Haigh, Paul Dungan and Lynn Naden are among the clay spinners who supply the product that gets painted by any of several Alaska artists. Patrons select the plate of their choice with donations of more than $100 to the Bunnell. But at least you can spare yourself the drive to Homer. "The Plate Project" platters come to Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road, to be admired and purchased for the remainder of this month. The opening reception will take place from 5-7 tonight.