An Evening of Sophisticated Entertainment

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Smith Center for a wonderful jazz concert, Wynton Marsalis and his Lincoln Center jazz orchestra. He is the quinessential jazz trumpet player, probably the best of our time, a consummate professional, and he is just a very nice person to boot! The music was wonderful, some Armstrong swing, some cool Ellington, some new contemporary, progressive-style pieces either arranged or composed by Wynton or his band mates. The evening flew by!

But, the bonus was the beautiful environment, our new Smith Center for performing arts. It's Art Deco in theme, with a marble lobby, geometrically decorated hand railings, frosted lighting, a marvelous scultpural piece gracing the grand staircase. Inside the auditorium, the ceiling soars up, five balconies worth, with elegant side boxes as well. A magnificent addition to our growing desert cultural scene.

Some tend to think that Las Vegas has no culture, or rather, the culture it has is geared toward strip clubs, boxing matches and poker tournaments. But judging by the enormous crowd on a Thursday night, turned out to see Marsalis, I have to say that sophisticated culture is determined to take root and grow here in our town. Maybe slowly, but surely. People are starved for great entertainment.

While the music played, if I could take my eyes off the event for a minute, I marveled at this beautiful hall. I began to think of all the wonderful opera houses and symphony halls of the world: The Paris Opera House (at right), the Vienna Opera House (above, left), built in the 19th Century.

But as I am primarily concerned with the 18th Century, I looked further and found that the London "Royal Opera House" (below) as it is called, was built in the 1700's, 1735 to be exact. It is also referred to as "Covent Garden" after a previous use of the site's original construction. It is the home of the Royal Opera, the Royal Ballet and the Royal Orchestra. The first ballet, Pygmalion, to be performed was in 1734, and in 1735 Handel's first season of operas began there.

The first opera performed there was the Beggar's Opera, by John Gay, in 1728, in the first building, but it was re-constructed in '35 due to fire, and later again there were more modifications and reconstruction, but all these buildings were constructed on the original site, on Bow Street in the Covent Garden area of London where it exists today. Of course, there is the Royal Box, which adds to the excitement. Imagine being there, and having the Queen or King in the house!

All this grandeur makes me want to get out my lornettes and check out the upcoming opera season!