The gala opera concert being staged for World AIDS Day by Sandys Rotary Club in St. John's Church will feature artists from Bermuda, Canada, America, Britain, and Austria -- underlining an international response to a crisis that is international in dimension.

In what is hoped will be a giant step forward in raising public awareness about AIDS and emphasising that its presence in Bermuda affects every sector of the community, Sandys Rotary and eight artists are uniting their efforts to produce what they are calling A Classical Response to AIDS, on December 1.

Governor Lord Waddington and Lady Waddington are hosting a reception at Government House, which will be followed by the concert at St. John's.

It is hoped that 300 people will purchase the $100 tickets, which would enable the Club to raise around $30,000, which organisers say is the minimum amount needed to establish the education fund.

The audience will be able to enjoy some of opera's most popular arias, including duets from Mozart's Don Gionanni and La Clamenza di Tito, The Marriage of Figaro, Delibes' Lakme and Puccini's Madame Butterfly, solos from Tosca, Rossini's Cavatina, Rigoletto by Verdi, Gluck's Orfeo, La Traviata, Lehar's Land of Smiles, Samson and Delilah and a grande finale in which all the singers will come together for everyone's favourite -- the "ballroom'' aria from La Traviata.

Dr. Beverly Hay, American soprano, who is well known in music circles here since she conducted the first professional Master Classes for singers in Bermuda last summer, will be joined by New Yorker Gwendolyn Lytle, lyric soprano, whose concert devoted to the music of George Gershwin was recently shown on PBS television.

From Austria comes Franz Wohlmuth, tenor, who has been in Bermuda since 1979 and just scored a great success as the soloist in the Bermuda Philharmonic Society's performance of Hiawatha's Wedding Feast at the Anglican Cathedral.

Bermudian Ru-Zelda Nisbett-Severin, soprano, studied voice under the late Geoffrey Tankard and Bermuda's Gary Burgess, and recently was a guest soloist of the Catholic Diocesan Choir during its tour of Italy.

Baritone Peter Nash has been one of Bermuda's best known singers since he came here more than 30 years ago, frequently appearing as a soloist in major performances of oratorios and in Gilbert & Sullivan productions.

Nancy Chisling, mezzo soprano, has delighted audiences here with her singing ever since she arrived with her Methodist minister husband, David, in 1989.

She frequently appears as guest soloist in Canada.

The singers will be supported by two musicians who are fine artists in their own rights.

Jane Farge, who received various awards from the Royal College of Music, and has performed for the Queen and the Queen Mother, is equally at home as a soloist singer or concert pianist.

Bermudian Lloyd Matthew, pianist and organist, received his Masters degree in Music Education from Andrews University and is now a peripatetic music teacher, and well-known choir director.

The Rev. David Chisling, who serves on the community services committee of the club, says that as the World Health Organisation chose "A Community Commitment'' as this year's theme, it was felt that an education fund would provide a very appropriate fund-raising project for Rotary. He says that Rotary clubs internationally have already done a great deal to help the AIDS cause and now Bermuda is joining in the world-wide effort.

Serving on the committee with Rev. Chisling are director of community services, Mr. Stephen Lake, Mr. Reginald Minors, Mr. Carneal Smith and Mr.

David Sample.

It is planned that money raised will be used to give Bermuda greater access to all the latest information on AIDS, both for patients, their friends and families, and care-givers.

A Classical Response to AIDS takes place on Tuesday, December 1. The black tie reception at Government House is at 6 p.m. followed by the concert at 8 p.m.

Tickets at $100 are available from Opus 1 on Reid Street, Hamilton, or call Rev. Chisling at 238-1945.