BELLE et la BETE OPERA SCORED BY PHILIP GLASS
Vegas City Opera presents La Belle et la Bête
January 30th at 7:30pm
January 31st at 2pm
Charleston Heights Arts Center
Tickets: $35 General Admission; $20 Seniors
Free tickets for students are redeemable at the box office two hours before each performance.
Philip Glass's La Belle et la Bête (The Beauty and the Beast) is a groundbreaking opera that seamlessly merges live performance with cinematic magic. Composed in 1994 as part of Glass's trilogy homage to French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, this opera transforms Cocteau’s 1946 film into a mesmerizing audiovisual experience. Glass replaced the film’s original soundtrack with his own score, perfectly syncing the voices of opera singers with the film's actors. The result is a captivating journey where film and music intertwine, bringing Cocteau’s fairytale masterpiece to life in a uniquely haunting and immersive way.
MEET THE CAST & CREW
Conductor, Tyler Gordon
American conductor Tyler Gordon is a dynamic musician immersed in the vibrant music scene of Las Vegas, Nevada. His musical journey spans across roles as a conductor, bassist and violist, where he has become a regular performer in several Nevada ensembles including the Las Vegas Sinfonietta, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Reno Philharmonic. Tyler is currently the Assistant Conductor of the Las Vegas Sinfonietta and Director of its newly formed Academy Orchestra. He is also the Assistant Director of Orchestras at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as well as the Orchestra Director at the College of Southern Nevada. Tyler pursued his musical education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in double bass performance under Professor Brycen Ingersoll and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting under Professor Taras Krysa.
la Bête, Jawan Jenkins
JAWAN JENKINS, Baritone and native of New York City. Jawan received his training early as a member of The Boys Choir of Harlem. Premiered roles include Asku in Stomping Grounds with The Glimmerglass Festival, Mr. Delgado in Jake Heggie’s It’s A Wonderful Life, and Ricky Ian Gordon’s A Coffin in Egypt, both with Houston Grand Opera. Roles with the Butler Opera Center include; Ford in Falstaff, Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Marquis de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites, Charlie in Three Decembers and, Vater in Hänsel und Gretel. As a Young Artist with The Glimmerglass Festival, he was seen in West Side Story, Silent Night, ShowBoat, Porgy & Bess, Blue, and The Ghost of Versailles. He has recently worked with Vegas City Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Opera San José, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Seattle Opera, Albany Symphony Orchestra, and Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Jawan obtained his Bachelor’s from Prairie View A&M University, Master’s in Opera Performance and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from The University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
la Belle, Courtney Ankerfelt
Mezzo-Soprano Courtney Ankerfelt is a Minnesota native and accomplished vocalist now based in Las Vegas, NV. She is currently in her senior year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), majoring in Chemistry. Courtney is also a proud alumna of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in Southern California, where she performed in numerous productions, served as the mezzo soloist in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, won the Concerto Competition and performed Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with full symphony orchestra, and received a grant from the Opera Buffs organization.
Courtney’s recent engagements highlight her adaptability and passion for diverse genres. In spring 2024, she collaborated with Noir Movement to perform a jazz show celebrating the Harlem Renaissance. Some of her recent operatic roles include Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Madame de Croissy in Dialogues des Carmélites, Flosshilde/Waltraute in The Ring: Las Vegas, Jupiter in Semele, and Jenny in The Threepenny Opera. She also participated in the Black Girl Magic, and Voices of Women concert series with Vegas City Opera, performing selections from Maya Angelou’s Calypso Blues in Caged Bird: A Celebration of Maya Angelou and toured with their Opera in the Movies concert series. Courtney has been a main stage performer for Enchant Las Vegas, and the mezzo- soprano soloist in Händel’s Messiah, showcasing her versatility in a holiday-themed setting.
Miss Ankerfelt will be graduating in December from UNLV with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
Felicie, Isabel Springer
American-German soprano Isabel Springer is known for vocally nuanced performances marked by emotional honesty, thoughtful interpretation, and a vibrant stage presence. Drawing on training in dance, acting, and Alexander Technique, she brings a deeply physical and expressive approach to her artistry. Passionate about reimagining classical repertoire in unconventional spaces, Isabel seeks to connect opera with nature and shared human experience.
Recent appearances include covering Nedda and singing in the chorus with Pacific Opera Project’s Pagliacci, premiering Umbra by Elliot Menard in Los Angeles, and originating the roles of WIND and The Bird in Iceland with Overtone Industries at La MaMa. She has sung Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica), Mary Hildebrand (Street Scene), and covered Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw). With Vegas City Opera, she appeared as Iris in Semele, and she was a featured vocalist in A Night in Vienna with the Las Vegas Sinfonietta.
An expressive recitalist, she produced Connection in Solitude in NYC and has performed works by Schumann and Poulenc. Isabel holds an M.M. from Mannes School of Music and a B.M. from the University of Michigan.
Adelaide, Dasia Intil
Dasia Intil has been singing in formal choirs since she was 8. A Loyola Marymount University alum, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance in May 2018. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to Merced, CA, continuing her musical pursuits by singing in local community and church choirs as a featured soloist and cantor, as well as with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Dasia relocated to Las Vegas in 2024, and is currently enrolled at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas’s graduate music program pursuing her masters. Previous roles include Jenny in Ned Rorem’s Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, and Catherine in Offenbach’s Le mariage aux lanternes. Upcoming projects include the role of Ruggiero in UNLV opera’s spring production of Alcina in March, as well as her Master Recital, “A Labor of Love”, in April. She currently studies under the tutelage of Dr. Monica Williams-McCullough. Dasia is grateful and excited to be making her professional debut with Las Vegas City Opera.
Avenant, Keith Milkie
Keith Milkie is a bold and compelling performer whose versatility spans opera, musical theater, and contemporary music. A graduate of the William Esper Conservatory for Acting in New York City (2015), Keith has brought dynamic characters to life on both coasts and internationally. He made his Vegas City Opera debut in 2021 and has since become a familiar face to local audiences, with standout roles including the gritty and charismatic Macheath in The Threepenny Opera, the tormented Escamillo in Carmen, and the vengeful Baron Scarpia in Tosca Tease.
As a soloist, Keith has performed at Zankel and Weill Halls at Carnegie Hall and with renowned companies including The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, The Regina Opera Company, and Vocal Productions NYC. His voice was featured in the Bruce Weber–produced Versace campaign Chicago is My Beat (2016), blending fashion and music on an international scale.
His vocal artistry has reached audiences in Milan, Salzburg, and the Hunan Province of China. Just prior to the pandemic, he presented a full solo recital of the 24 Italian Songs and Arias at St. John’s in the Village, NYC. Operatic credits include Don Giovanni, Dr. Bartolo, Figaro, Valentine (Faust), and Scruples (The Impresario).
In addition to opera, Keith is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, with his original album Buying Time available on major streaming platforms. A dedicated martial artist, he brings physical intensity and emotional depth to every role he embodies.
Ludovic/Officiel, Lavell Thompson
LaVell Thompson, Jr. is an award-winning vocalist and composer, earning first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition, third place in the Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization Competition, district winner of the Leontyne Price Competition, and recipient of the Ladies Friday Musical Club Award for musical excellence. His choral work I Shall Always Love You premiered to critical acclaim and earned recognition in the Music Educators National Conference Young Composers Competition, along with honors including the SOS Career Grant and the Hilde B. Stroh Award.
His stage credits include Steve in Oklahoma!, Mr. Earlanson in A Little Night Music, and The Attorney in Trial by Jury, with partial roles such as Rodolfo (La Bohème), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Martin (The Tenderland), the Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, and The Boy in Juniper Tree, written for him.
A featured soloist in major concert works including Messiah, Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, this marks his Vegas City Opera debut. He is a graduate voice student at UNLV, recently appearing in Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters and The Three Feathers.
Le Pere/Usurie, Kurt Sedlmeir
Kurt Sedlmeir, a Lyric Baritone with a passion for the operatic art form, has dedicated his career to bringing powerful performances to the stage through operatic roles and modern chamber works. Residing in Las Vegas, Kurt graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Music in 2019 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. His journey has taken him beyond the borders of the United States, with advanced opera studies in Austria and Munich, Germany, where he refined his technique and deepened his appreciation for classical music traditions.
Kurt has been featured in numerous productions with UNLV Opera Theatre and Vegas City Opera, portraying a range of complex characters. His roles include The Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Masetto in Don Giovanni, and roles in Dialogues of the Carmelites. With Vegas City Opera, he has shone in standout performances as Hunding in Die Walküre, Benoit/Alcindoro in La Bohème, Escamillo in Carmenand The Mad King in Eight Songs for a Mad King by Peter Maxwell Davies.His recent portrayal of Leporello in Don Giovanni (2024) captivated audiences with his blend of vocal strength and nuanced interpretation.
Kurt’s dedication to his craft is evident in every role he undertakes, bringing both intensity and sensitivity to each performance. He continues to share his love for opera with audiences, always excited to take the stage and immerse himself in the timeless stories and music of opera.