OPERA WATCH.(Brief Article)

1. The poster for LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO's radio fundraiser, Operathon 2001, features a pair of familiar faces: Lyric subscriber JOHN MAHONEY and his Frasier co-star, "Eddie." Operathon 2001 will be carried by Chicago's WFMT and 200 other FM stations nationally on Saturday, October 13, beginning at 8 A.M. (C.S.T.). Check local listings.

RIVERSIDE CHURCH will present the New York City premiere of No Easy Walk to Freedom, CHANDLER CARTER's chamber opera based on the life of former South African president NELSON MANDELA. Performances are on Friday, October 12 at 8 P.M. and Sunday, October 14 at 3 P.M. For tickets, call (212) 870-6784. Opening night will be a benefit to raise funds for the fight against AIDS in Africa.

2. MARILYN HORNE was among those inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame at a June 29 gala. Other honorees included Broadway star JOHN RAITT and his daughter, singer BONNIE RAITT; composer STEVIE WONDER; and the Monty Python comedy troupe, represented by founding member ERIC IDLE. The gala evening, which also featured a concert conducted by JOHN MAUCERI, benefited Music Matters, the children's education programs of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

3. Original Cast Records has released Fermat's Last Tango, a new musical by frequent OPERA NEWS contributors JOSHUA ROSENBLUM and JOANNE SYDNEY LESSNER, which had a successful Off-Broadway run at Manhattan's York Theatre last season. For availability, check ...