Columnist Spencer Patterson: Pavarotti offers fans chance of a lifetime

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 | 8:10 a.m.

Christine Seitz already has other plans, but the director of UNLV Opera Theatre is encouraging her students to visit Caesars Palace on Saturday night.

That's when operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti kicks off what is expected to be his final world tour with an 8 p.m. concert at The Colosseum.

"Anytime my students can see somebody who's had a career like his -- hear his mature voice, watch him breathe -- it's great," said Seitz, an assistant professor of music at UNLV.

"Even in a big concert hall, he has to produce the singing voice the way he would in a small singing hall without amplification. It's very demanding, especially the breathing."

Accompanying the 68-year-old Pavarotti on a program featuring his best-known works will be a 66-piece orchestra conducted by Maestro Leone Magiera and a guest soprano.

Seitz said she's not surprised Pavarotti is planning to retire from the road after more than four decades as a performer.

"Some opera singers have been able to sing well into their 60s and early 70s, but those are few and far between," she said. "Rather than change their repertoire when they get to that point, they usually choose to retire in their late 50s or 60s."

Born in Modena, Italy, Pavarotti burst onto the international scene in 1972 with his performance of "La Fille du Regiment" at New York City's Metropolitan Opera.

Since then, he has been responsible for attracting hordes of new fans to the opera, a musical genre once viewed as elitist in America, according to Seitz.

"What Pavarotti has brought to the opera world is immeasurable," Seitz said. "He gave it a new kind of notoriety among the general public. He's enabled regular folks to enjoy opera again. They no longer feel excluded from the experience."

Tickets to Pavarotti's concert range from $125 to $800 and are available at the Caesars box office and through TicketMaster.

Local opera fans should also take note: the UNLV Opera Theatre has a production scheduled for March 5-7 at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre. Seitz said the concerts will feature two short one-acts by Giacomo Puccini: "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi."

Music notes

Full slate: It's another busy concert weekend in Southern Nevada, with something to satisfy virtually every taste in popular music. Along with Pavarotti and Liz Phair -- the subject of this section's cover story -- here are a few of the other options:

Tonight, singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright plays The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel at 8. Tickets are $20 and $25.

Wainwright, the son of folk singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, has released three albums since 1998. His latest, "Want One," earned a spot on several year-end best-of 2003 lists, including Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of the Year.

Hip-hop fans should flock to Orleans Arena, where DMX teams with guests Busta Rhymes and Lil' Kim for an 8 p.m. show on Saturday. Tickets to the show, which was only announced last weekend, range from $35 to $125.

DMX's latest album, "Grand Champ," became his fifth straight disc to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 earlier this year. The hardcore rapper has also appeared in several movies, including action flicks "Romeo Must Die" and "Exit Wounds."

Also on Saturday, Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias stops by The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets are sold out, but several remained available on eBay at press time.

The 28-year-old Iglesias, son of Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias, released his latest album, "7," in November. He is best known for such dance hits as "Bailamos" and "Hero."

Moe. better blues: Jam band moe. has signed on for three late-night shows at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay following Phish's three concerts at the Thomas & Mack Center April 15-17.

The New York quintet also played the House of Blues after Phish's reunion shows at the Thomas & Mack last year. Phish bassist Mike Gordon joined moe. onstage for part of one set.

Tickets are $22 and go on sale at 10 a.m. March 6 at the House of Blues box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

On sale

The Mandalay Bay Events Center hosts "Tiger Jam VII" on May 29. Tickets are $65 and $125 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mandalay Bay box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Prince returns for a May 30 concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Tickets are $125 and $65 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mandalay Bay box office and through TicketMaster.

The Vines lead the "Aussie Invasion Tour" into The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on April 4. Also on the bill: Jet, Living End and Neo. Tickets are $22 and go on sale at noon Saturday at the Hard Rock box office and through TicketMaster.

Bryan Adams plays Rain Nightclub at the Palms on May 9. Tickets are $50 and $100 and are on sale now at the Palms' box office and through TicketMaster.

The Crystal Method performs a live set at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on April 29 with DJ Hyper. Tickets are $25 and $30 and were to go on sale today at the House of Blues box office and through TicketMaster.

Tesla stops at the House of Blues on April 3. Tickets are $25, $32 and $42 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the House of Blues box office and through TicketMaster.

Ziggy Marley plays the House of Blues on April 2. Tickets are $32.50, $40 and $45 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the House of Blues box office and through TicketMaster.

Musiq holds court at the House of Blues on March 25 with opening act Goapele on March 25. Tickets are $25, $30 and $35 and are on sale.