The Montclaire String Quartet commences its new season with a program dubbed "The Fifth Element," which will feature works by Rossini, Shostakovich and Dvorak in a concert starting 8 p.m. Saturday at Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, 1009 Virginia St. E. Tickets cost $12.50 adults, $7.50 students.

By Marc Shulgold Ed Berkeley looks more like a member of your bowling team than a studious opera director. For 15 years, this gentle fellow with the scruffy beard, compact build and untucked shirt has headed the Aspen Music Festival's nationally respected Opera Theater Center.

By Carol Simmons Staff Writer DAYTON -- The most surprising aspect of the Dayton Opera's producton of Rosini's much performed -- and parodied -- "The Barber of Seville" is how many surprises the players manage to pull out of the popular showpiece.

By Jessica Harrison Deseret Morning News "CINDERELLA," Utah Opera, Capitol Theatre, Saturday, additional performances through March 16, 355-2787 Utah Opera's production of Gioacchino Rossini's "La Cenerentola" ("Cinderella") isn't what you'd expect the classic fairy tale to be. It's much better.

By Rosemary Ponnekanti, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Mar. 4--It could be the only opera in history where the principal comic part has been sung by a woodpecker, two cats, a frog and a canary.