Philadelphia Orchestra kicks off Vanda Series

Friday, Sept. 28, 2001 | 9:02 a.m.

The Philadelphia Orchestra performed during the first season of UNLV's Performing Arts Center's prestigious Charles Vanda Master Series in 1976.

The 110-member ensemble will launch the series' 2001-2002 season Saturday with a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, Strauss' "Don Juan" and "Smetana Vlatava."

The 101-year-old Philadelphia Orchestra has performed at UNLV several times since the start of the series, the last time during the 1986-87 season.

Myron Martin, director of the Performing Arts Center, said he thought the ensemble would cancel its 12-city tour after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"Their decision whether to make the tour or not came down to the last minute," Martin said. "Last week we expected the tour to be canceled, but they made the decision that it was better for them to make the tour. It was better for us to have an outlet to get our minds off the tragedies."

The acts of terrorism slowed down ticket sales for the performance.

"The Philadelphia Orchestra is among the top 10 in the world. It is a great American musical institution," Martin said. "Normally, two weeks in advance of the performance, we would have been sold out. But ticket sales have been pretty slow."

However, he says he is confident there will be a large turnout for the event.

Thanks in part to the Master Series, culture has become an important part of life in Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas was not on the cultural radar screen when UNLV's Master Series began," Martin said. "Through the years we have had the greatest orchestras, the greatest dance companies and theatrical companies in the world perform here."

Groups and individuals that have been part of the Charles Vanda Master Series include the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Polish National Radio Symphony, the Los Angeles Ballet, violinist Itzhak Perlman, classical guitarist Andres Segovia, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Boys Choir.

One of the most popular performers in the series over the years was violinist Isaac Stern, who died last week.

Stern also was among the first to appear as part of the Master Series, which was begun by 80-year-old Charles Vanda when he was director of concert hall programming at UNLV.

"The Master Series is now a cultural mainstay in Southern Nevada," Martin said.

Other performances slated for the series this season include the Australia Chamber Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Rising Stars of Classical Music, the Moscow Grigorovich Ballet and vocalist Frederica von Stade.

Martin said in the past three years ticket sales have more than doubled for events sponsored by the Performing Arts Center, which includes not only the Master Series but also the Best of the New York Stage and the World Stage series. The three events combine to create a three-part season for PAC.

Martin created the Best of the New York Stage series shortly after taking over the PAC.

"This is a series that has brought the greatest names in Broadway, cabaret and jazz to Las Vegas," he said. "Prior to that, we didn't really have a venue here.

"There was no place for (dancer) Gregory Hines or (trumpeter) Wynton Marsalis to perform. Now there is, and the community has really embraced the series. It was thirsty for this type of entertainment that really didn't fit into the Master Series, which is all classical, and it didn't fit on the Strip."

Patrons of the Best of the New York Stage series this season will see (among others) Kristen Chenoweth (who won a Tony for her role in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"); jazz legends Dr. Billy Taylor and Ramsey Lewis in a single concert; Emmy winner Mandy Patinkin; the Ailey II dance ensemble; and jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves.

Martin said the World Stage series came about because there were entertainers who did not easily fit into the other series.

This year's World Stage series begins Nov. 9 with a performance by the Bangarra Dance Theatre, a troupe of aborigine dancers from Australia. Its traditional dances date back 40,000 years, according to Martin.

"There was no place for the Bangarra dancers to appear in Las Vegas," Martin said. "With the World Stage, we are able to bring interesting, unique entertainment offerings to our stage."