Opera Las Vegas celebrates Oktoberfest

Opera Las Vegas celebrated the fall season Oct. 25 with a late afternoon Oktoberfest at the Paradise Valley home of Kim McKellar.

Opera Las Vegas members and their guests including Barbara Lee and Bruce Woollen, Alvida Lane, Anita and Chris Murray, Joan Dimmitt, Joyce Kessler, Sandra Frank and Vaughn Richards were greeted at the home's entrance by Opera Las Vegas President John Krieger and Jim Sohre, the event's master of ceremonies.

Music from the "Student Prince" filled the air as guests participated in the reception's silent auction while tasting the German wine and imported beers.

Seating for the opera performance was in the great room where Sohre gave a brief history of a particular opera and introduced the opera stars: Luana DeVol, Joan Sobel, Rebecca Morris, John Tsotsoros and Ian Gargantiel.

The event's special guest was international opera soprano and Opera Las Vegas' general director, Luana DeVol. She charmed the crowd by singing "Vienna, My City of Dreams."

The opera singers performed music from such operas and operettas as "Die Fledermaus," "The Magic Flute," "Land of Smiles," "Countess Maritza" and "The Gypsy Baron." Piano accompaniment was by Sohre.

The event also featured an Oktoberfest Bavarian buffet of German bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato pancakes with sour cream, applesauce, potato salad made with broth, vinegar, onions and mustard, and Bavarian beer.

Other supporters attending were Juliana and Matthew McRae, Sally and Larry McKinney, Wynn Schottelkorb, Sondra Lynch, Ben Litvinoff, Christine McKellar, Andrew Martin, Betty Miller, Roger Gallizzi, Maha Madanat, Blanche Bozarth, Ross and Matthew McKellar, Claire Ehrsam, James Willey, and Beverly and Mike Mykisen.