By KAYE GREER

JONESTOWN—The sounds of opera rang throughout the Villa Antonia Feb. 9 during the final Twilight Concerts program of the season featuring three opera singers and their accompanist.
The finale prompted a standing ovation from the crowd, cheering and asking for more. Soprano singer Cara Johnston obliged by singing “O Mio Babbino Caro.”
Because a variety of opera, operetta, Broadway and even Celtic music was included in the program, one couple, Patti and Greg Bourland said, “We are not opera people, but we enjoyed this.”
Twilight Concerts President William Parcher said he enjoyed the show.
“I enjoyed this final concert of the season hugely, and judging from the audience response, so did they,” he said. “So successful have been the various performances this season that we will be inviting back five of the six performing groups for next year.”
Well-known baritone David Small—who has performed in Europe and across the United States—created the concert. Parcher introduced Small with an anecdote of their association in the opera world during Parcher’s long career in worldwide opera performances. He allowed Small to choose his own program.
“It was wonderful to do a program in which I was told to just do what you love to do,” Small said. “We all did things we love.”
Small played a familiar role for himself, Figaro, in the final performance, “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” by Rossini. He sang the tongue-twisting aria “Largo Al Factotum.” When learning the song, Small said he practiced very slowly over one entire summer to become more comfortable with the speed.
Small also performed “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific” and the Toreador Song from “Carmen” by Bizet—both audience favorites. He told a story of asking a composer friend of his to name a perfect melody from any age or any composer. The friend, Small said, “blew him away” by saying “Danny Boy,” which he commenced to sing at the concert.
Coloratura soprano Cara Johnston introduced Puccini’s “La Boheme” during the concert by the aria “Quando M’en Vo,” following with “Vilia” from “The Merry Widow operetta,” “Love Is Where You Find It” from “The Kissing Bandit” and “Glitter and Be Gay” from Leonard Bernstein’s opera “Candide.”
Johnston said “Candide” is her very favorite to sing, and that she loves American composers, especially Copeland.
“The audience made the performance better,” Johnston said of the Feb. 9 concert.
Liz Cass, mezzo soprano, and Johnston sang two duets from the opera “Lakme” by Delibes and “Barcarolle” from the opera “Les Contes d’Hoffman” by Offenbach.
Cass has a background of performances for Austin Lyric Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Bronx Opera in New York, Austin Symphony and also in Antigua and Guatamala City.
For the concert she sang “Habanera” from the opera “Carmen” by Bizet. She sang a duet, Mozart’s “La Ci Darem,” with Small.
Cass also performed “A Little Bit In Love” from “Wonderful Town” by Bernstein.
Her voice has been described as having a unique brilliance, depth and agility. She will be seen as the Mother and the Witch in Austin Lyric Opera’s production of “Hansel and Gretel” this spring.
Elden Little, the accompanist for the singers, is pianist, coach and music administrator for the Austin Lyric Opera. He has accompanied numerous singers and instrumentalists throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. He also accompanied the “Parcher and Friends” opera program for Twilight Concerts two years ago.
The concert also included an appeal from Parcher to buy fall/winter subscriptions for the 2010-11 season, as advance commitments were necessary to contract with artists for upcoming concerts. Sixty percent of subscriptions have been sold, enabling the non-profit group to go forward with plans for next season. Donations are tax deductible and may be mailed to Twilight Concert Series, P.O. Box 4731, Lago Vista, TX 78645. Season tickets are $150. Orders can be made by mail. Call 267-2185 for more information.