OPERA
The Barber of Seville
Set to often lively music, this opera follows the exploits of Seville’s self-celebrating barber, Figaro â€" a character who literally sings his own praises. Everybody shares secrets with their barbers, and this barber is only too happy put what he learns to work.

As a production, The Barber of Seville has held up for the past 191 years, Tacoma Opera’s general director Kathryn Smith says, “because it is a really great piece. Our job is to make it extremely funny and to do it as the composer intended.”

Barber of Seville also stands out somewhat regarding matters of “scale.” Compared with some works of grand opera, this production tells its comic tale with a relatively small cast. The show includes seven principals and 11 chorus members.

“Compared to Carmen, it’s tiny,” Smith says. â€" Bill Timnick

[Pantages Theater, The Barber of Seville, March 7-8 8 p.m., March 9 2 p.m., $24-$78, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.7789, www.tacomaopera.com]

MUSIC
HAPA
As themes go, I happen to love Hawaiian â€" the tikis, Elvis and 1950s surfer images make me weak in the knees. When I heard “The Sound of Maui” will fill the Washington Center tonight, I heard mai tai ice clinking mixing with waves crashing on the shores of Makena Beach.

That’s coconuts according to Washington Center. Their version is the Pan-Polynesian music of HAPA, a contemporary band that brings the majestic tones of oli, mele and hula to us Haoles. â€" Brad Allen

[Washington Center, Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753.8585]

LINK: The Delta Project brings blues to Bob’s.
LINK: In local clubs tonight.
LINK: Let’s eat Chinese tonight.