If social media were a theme park, then Reddit would be the roller coaster. Case in point: The twists, turns, and drops of a somewhat recent thread debating the best Beethoven symphony. By the time the train returned to the station, No. 9 had the most upvotes, but shortly behind it was No. 5. You know the one-one-one-onnnnne. The Las Vegas Philharmonic famously last-minute swapped the piece into its first post-1 October concert, and it was a highlight of the group’s 2021-2022 season including all nine Ludwig Van symphonies. For this fall’s season opener, the Phil has slotted Symphony No. 5 in as the finale, led by Phil music consultant Leonard Slatkin. Bonus: Soloing during the night’s second number — John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man, influenced by the words, not the music, of Bob Dylan — will be soprano Hila Plitmann.
Over at Vegas City Opera, the 16-year-old organization — along with Las Vegas Sinfonietta — saw an opportunity in Handel’s secular work Semele: What if they updated a baroque opera to reflect modern celebrity/influencer culture, red carpets and all? Could they stage a production that’s equal parts Ovid and Andy Cohen? We’re gonna find out November 16, when the Opera’s cast portrays Semele, Jupiter, and other notables of ancient mythology as their reality TV and Hollywood equivalents, all backed by the Sinfonietta’s 30-ish member ensemble. If they can pull this off, could a Homeric version of Survivor be next?
Speaking of recasting a chestnut in a far-flung context, Nevada Conservatory Theatre’s A Christmas Carol 1941 time-travels from mid-1800s London to WWII-era Chicago, where swing gave way to bebop and the effects of the Great Depression lingered despite the promise of a rearmament rebound. Enter Ebenezer Scrooge — always squeezing a buck, and giving off a chill that could shame a Lake Michigan breeze — the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and everyone’s favorite redemption arc.
If you’re looking for a stage production that’s even more reflective of the current times, A Public Fit has you covered with What the Constitution Means to Me, an exploration of the widely interpreted U.S. document through the lens of a former high school debater. Too soon, you say? Then note that Heidi Schreck’s historically sweeping play takes the edge off a touchy subject with humor and heart.
To those wondering (or worrying) why the Las Vegas Museum of Art is so quiet: Fret not. Its first collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is already on display. The photographic Family Album doubles as a great excuse to check out the brand-new Civic Center Gallery downtown.
And there’s more doubling-up at UNLV’s Barrick Museum, with two locals-dominated, multimedia group exhibitions. Living Here features Asian American/Pacific Islander artists exploring their heritages and diasporic history through the touchstones that occupy their everyday lives. And moving from the East, to the West Gallery: Perception forces you to question everything you see. Do your eyes deceive you? Is your brain gaslighting you? Trust me, this looks way cooler than it reads.
Also at UNLV, the Performing Arts Center closes out its calendar year with another guitar-centric masterclass. Colombia-born Vegas resident Ricardo Cobo is a six-stringer renowned for his spirited and expertly honed fretwork. The former UNLV professor returns to his old stomping ground with the show “Diary of Musical Images” — that’s three nouns that normally don’t go together, but trust the process, folks. If you haven’t experienced Latin American classical guitar by a literal maestro in person, avail yourself of this inexpensive opportunity.
To come full circle, it’s the holiday season. If you favor a more traditional celebration, but still like a bit of spectacle, then Santa’s Electric Night Parade in Boulder City strikes the balance. Imagine a local holiday version of Disneyland’s famous electric parade, minus the sugar-synth theme song.
You know, if Southern Nevada were a theme park, then Boulder City would be its Main Street. Thankfully, there’s no mortgage payment-sized ticket price here.
