The Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra, directed by pianist Morten G. Larsen will appear in Tulsa for the second time in several years as part of their coast-to-coast tour.   When the Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra appeared here in 1999 they played in front of a wildly enthusiastic, sold out audience.   This year's concert is also expected to sell out, so early ticket purchase is recommended.

The ten piece Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra was founded in Norway by Morten Gunnar Larsen in 1977, and they have played concerts all around the world.   Larsen was inspired to start the orchestra when he was studying in the United States and had the opportunity to collect original arrangements of turn of the century ragtime and other music associated with the genre.   The Orchestra has recorded four CDs of ragtime and early jazz music.   In addition to the orchestra, their latest CD features choral performances of music from Scott Joplin's only opera, Treemonisha.