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Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Another view?
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I just watched the PBS special on the opening of the Smith Center in Las Vegas. I can remember having lunch years ago with former Las Vegas Philharmonic music director Hal Weller and Susan Tompkins when they talked about trying to get a performing arts center for Las Vegas.
I was really disappointed that out of a two-hour program, the only classical music was a pair of short pieces played by Joshua Bell and a female pianist. It’s pretty sad but, I suppose, not unexpected.
It was also unfortunate that no mention was made of, nor was there a performance by, the Las Vegas Philharmonic. In addition, no mention was made of the Herculean efforts on the part of Weller to expand the footprint of classical music in the city and the school system. A tragic omission, in my humble opinion.
Excellent point letter writer. And it took a proud Virginian to make it!
CarmineD
The main big venue just hosts nearly all broadway shows.
The smaller venue does some small artist acts and often are jazz related.
I don't see much classical music acts or theatrical plays on their website if any.
I was hoping when the Smith Center for the Performing Arts was getting ready to open that there would be a lot of classical and opera performances. When I hear these two types of music, I feel like I'm on an excursion to paradise.
To me, personally, what a disappointment the Smith Center has been. I see this place as an extension of musical shows that are performed on the Las Vegas strip.
I've heard many people comment that there is no place in Vegas for classical and or operatic performances. I think the Smith Center is making a huge mistake.
In my earlier years, I always considered myself a "ham-n-egg" singer. Although I was diversified in the types of music that I sang, I almost always faltered when it came to singing classical and opera. However, there was one song, "All That I Ask Of You" that I revised into more simplicity, and even noticeably struggled to get through this classical song. The talent required to perform classical and opera music is just astronomical.
My point is, there is a call for classical and opera here in Las Vegas. In past years, when an audience liked even a mediocre singer, like myself, attempting to perform a classical song, you can bet a highly talented performer / singer would "fill the house" at the Smith Center.
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/son...
Went to see "Wicked" last week at the Smith Center. What a great treasure this place is for our great City!
Mr. Chapline I, like you, enjoy classical music and opera. I have an excellent sound system in my car and enjoy taking a ride once a week just to listen. I would enjoy a classical venue here in Las Vegas. While visiting England I attended a choral recital in Oxford that included many of Byrd's works. It was breathtaking!!
Good afternoon John; nice to hear from you again.
I went on a school field trip when I was a kid to the Lyric Theatre in Baltimore where I was first exposed to opera. From that point on, I was hooked. I would have given anything to have had their voice. Breath-taking is absolutely right in defining their performances.
Yes John, in speaking of Europe, during my Marine years,there has never been anything more pure than my experiences in visiting both cathedrals and opera halls that blessed this region.
Here in Vegas, the Smith Center is a beautiful place, and a total shame in lacking the classical and opera performances that not surprisingly, many Las Vegan's would cherish in attending.
I'm very pleased to enthusiastically agree with Mr. Jack on this one. I attended the opening night of the Smith Center, and have been to more than a dozen events since then, and it is truly a world-class venue.
I had the opportunity to play st the Smith Center, as part of the Clark County School District benefit concert. The smith Center compares very favoribly to many of the finest music venues in the United States, and I was also dissapointed that the Las Vegas Philharmonic was not featured. They also missed a grand opportinity to do a feature on the youth orchestras, dance companies and other scholastic fine arts programs, which make Las Vegas and Reno prennial leaders in the arts across the country.
I understand that the Phil is not ready for a 40-50 concert season, like CSO or NYP, but they are growing and improving every year, so until that comes to pass, touring productions will make up a large part of revenue generation.