OUR FRIEND FLICKA MEZZO SOPRANO FREDERICA VON STADE MIXES OPERA, CABERET ON CSUN STAGE.

Byline: Evan Henerson Staff Writer

SHE'S SUNG at the Met, the Scala and at major opera houses domestically and internationally. And now celebrated mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade is gearing up for her biggest gig ever ...

Her Northridge debut!

``How do I even compare?'' says the 58-year-old Von Stade, who goes by the nickname ``Flicka,'' in anticipation of her spring opera gala Monday night at the California State University, Northridge, Performing Arts Center. ``Actually, I'm looking forward to it. It's a new theater, and that's always so exciting. I'm just delighted to be thought of and invited.''

Actually, administrators at CSUN's Center for the Visual and Performing Arts are hoping the ``Flicka and Friends'' gala and events like it will help pave the way for an even more momentous new happening. That would be the development of a new CSUN Performing Arts Center tentatively scheduled to break ground in 2008 and open in 2012.

``We're beginning to do things here to develop new audiences, to bring attention and a higher profile to what we do here,'' says William C. Martin, interim artistic director for the Performing Arts Center. ``Flicka is like the Julie Andrews of the opera world, and in this small space with the acoustics, it will feel like audiences have her in their living room.''

The concert, with L.A.-based mezzo soprano Suzanna Guzman, tenor David Romano and soprano Lillian Sengpiehl, will also feature pianist William Vendice, head of the music staff and chorus master for Los Angeles Opera. Michael Moore of LTM Artists will produce the evening. Proceeds benefit the new performing arts center project.

Von Stade, who has a busy concert and recital schedule, will perform a cycle of songs by ``Dead Man Walking'' composer Jake Heggie. She plans to mix in some opera selections and some comic cabaret numbers. She'll do a couple of duets with Guzman, an Act 1 duet from ``The Marriage of Figaro'' and possibly Stephen Sondheim's ``Send in the Clowns.''

The San Francisco based von Stade will come to L.A. Sunday and have some rehearsal time with her concert ``friends.''

``I know Suzanna Guzman very well, of course, but I don't know some of the younger artists,'' she says, with a laugh, adding, ``I've been around awhile.''

Other upcoming appearances for von Stade include a concert with the Seattle Men's Chorus, a recital in Savannah, Ga., and a date with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She returns to the opera boards in the fall for a production of Mozart's ``Cosi Fan Tutte'' for San Francisco Opera.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

FLICKA AND FRIENDS

Where: CSUN Performing Arts Center, next to the University Student Union on campus, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Closest parking is in Lot G4 (enter on Zelzah Avenue at Plummer Street).

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Tickets: $20 to $100. Call [phone]; www.cvpa.csun.com.

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Photo:

Frederica von Stade on her ``Flicka and Friends'' concert at CSUN's Performing Arts Center