Philharmonic’s Weller gets into swing of holidays

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 | 7:12 a.m.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic's season subscribers have noticed a mysterious addition to Row M at the last couple of concerts.

"Hey, there's Hal," they would whisper, referring to the Philharmonic's retiring director Hal Weller. "Where's his tux?" Then they would wait for the stranger on the podium to lead them through an evening of classical brilliance.

This weekend will be a throwback of sorts. Maestro Weller is back to bring us into the holiday season with a program that combines the symphony with the Las Vegas Master Singers and the University Children's Chorale. If you've never heard the symphonic versions of "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Carol of the Bells" or "Once In Royal David's City," this is your chance.

What? No Christmas oratorio?

"We attract people who might not ordinarily come to a Philharmonic concert," Weller says. "I was trying to imagine myself as a young person going to a concert for the first time. You don't catch them with a heavy piece."

These are Weller's last holiday concerts, but there's no emotional lump in his throat.

"I'm going to have a great time watching somebody do it next Christmas," he says with a laugh.

Details: "A Holiday Celebration"; 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Ham Hall, UNLV; $27 to $55; 895-2787

Good shows

The great thing about art is how it forces us to slow down, concentrate, examine and interpret form and meaning. It goes against the grain of today's lifestyle.

For great reflection, stop in at UNLV's Donna Beam Gallery of Fine Art exhibit, "Transformers!" to take a breather, see where we are as a society through illustrations and abstract forms.

Jason Jagel's "Divining Rod" reflects our time perfectly. With composed visual chaos created from finely detailed vignettes of humanity, the San Francisco artist shows a busy representation equivalent to having 10 televisions on in the same room at the same time.

The fun is when you get to break down each story.

Like other works in the exhibit, which is tied together by contemporary uses of the figurative, it incorporates superb technical drawing mixed in with peculiar forms and compositions. While Jagel's piece gives us an almost audio sense of a busy world, Chris Hammerlein's intricately detailed and storied graphite on paper works show more fluid movement and complexity. The works by this New York artist grab your attention immediately, then offer hours of exploration. One reviewer described them as "detailed cartoon allegories that look like medieval and early Renaissance prints updated and greatly enlarged like a cosmically minded hippie."

The exhibit includes sculptural paintings by Amy Bessone (Los Angeles), acrylic on canvas and acrylic on plywood works by Mark Muslroney (Berkeley), paintings by Jovi Schnell, Robert Gutierrez and Christine Shields (all of San Francisco) and a sculpture by Thomas Houseago (Los Angeles).

Details: "Transformers!" Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery, UNLV; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 15; free; 895-3893

A must-see

As long as you're on campus, stop in at Grant Hall Gallery, where Christopher Bauder's "Straight on 'Til Morning" MFA Midway exhibition is on display through Dec. 17.

Bauder's soft sculptures made from latex house paint are as perplexing as they are engaging and visually delicious. While experiencing his new work in a solo show, you can't help but imagine the artist pouring and molding these strangely organic shapes like a mad scientist. This exhibit focuses on color and form. The otherworldly sculptures could easily be deep-sea inspired. Yet somehow you sense the familiar. Wall-mounted sculptures made from muted pinks, blues and yellows ooze paint down the wall. A mound of soft yellow balls sit atop swirling liquid that could double as melted ice cream.

Details: "Straight on 'Til Morning"; Grant Hall Gallery, UNLV; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends by appointment; free; (775) 544-6978