Coffee with Kaizer... Musical happenings for the week of October 28...

Monday-Thursday October 28th-31st 

and Sunday November 3rd 5:00pm-6:00pm
Paraguayan Harpist Mariano Gonzalez
Friday-Saturday November 1st-2nd 5:00pm-6:00pm
Violinist James Harvey and Cellist Mert Sermet
in the beautiful Autumn Garden of the
Bellagio Conservatory (large garden near the front desk, and self parking)
Bellagio Hotel and Casino

Monday October 28th 7:00pm
Piano recital featuring UNLV piano professor Mykola Suk and UNLV piano students including Maria Kolesnyk, Katia Bessmeltseva and Dejan Deskolov piano. Program includes Liszt and Amy Beach
Starbright Theater
2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd.
Las Vegas NV 89134
Free and Open to the Public
more info 702-240-1301

Tuesday October 29th 7:30pm
Contemporary Music Concert featuring flutist Anastasia Petanova and pianist Timothy Hoft
concert series is called "Nextet"
UNLV Doc Rando Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
Free and Open to the Public
more info 702-895-3332

Thursday October 31st 7:30pm
Doctoral Flute recital by Carmella Cao
UNLV Doc Rando Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
Free and Open to the Public
more info 702-895-3332

Friday, Saturday November 1st, 2nd 8:00pm
Dramatic Opera by Menotti entitled "The Medium"
will be performed by Sin City Opera
Onyx Theater
953 E. Sahara
Las Vegas NV 89104
$15
more info 702-900-4492

Friday November 1st 7:30pm
Cello recital featuring UNLV visiting cello professor
Daniel Gaisford, program includes Sonatas 1 and 2 for unaccompanied cello
by Michael Hersch
UNLV Doc Rando Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
Free and Open to the Public
more info 702-895-3332

Saturday November 2nd 7:00pm
Piano recital by Pat Sue
Christ Church Episcopal
2000 S. Maryland
Las Vegas NV 89121
Free and Open to the Pubic, voluntary donations received
more info: 702-735-7655

Sunday November 3rd 2:00pm
Chamber Music recital by CSN students, faculty and friends
CSN Recital Hall (room 1430)
Cheyenne Campus
3200 E. Cheyenne Ave.
N. Las Vegas
$8, $5 students/seniors
more info: 702-651-5483

Sunday November 3rd 7:30pm
Piano recital by Spencer Baker, performers also include Shakeh Goukasian, Yuuki Hashimori violins, Tianna Heppner Harjo viola, Elena Kapustina cello, Chris Davis Bass and dancers Katie Kenner and the Dance Loft Dancers. Program includes Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Dohnanyi
Green Valley Presbyterian Church
1798 Wigwam Pkwy
Henderson NV 89074
Free and Open to the Public, voluntary donation received
more info: 702-454-8484

upcoming

Tuesday November 5th 7:30pm
Concert featuring the music of Elliot Carter
Free and Open to the Public
UNLV Doc Rando Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
Free and Open to the Public
more info 702-895-3332

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

Life is Beautiful has arrived!

The most anticipated and of course the most ambitious art, music, food and all out entertainment festival in Las Vegas History has finally arrived. In a matter of a few hours tens of thousands of festival goers, myself included, will be descending into the Downtown area for what is expected to be the grand dame of Las Vegas parties. Not even New Years on the Strip will come close to what is being planned in the real City Center of Downtown Las Vegas. Luckily the way to the festival is only 8 short blocks from my Downtown flat.

I haven't been this excited to attend a festival since my raving days back in the late 1990's when we would drive to Southern California to hit up the massive parties like Nocturnal Wonderland or Lollapalooza. Festivals that would bring out thousands of people to dance into the wee hours of the night. Of course Life is Beautiful is a completely different animal and experience. One that is rooted far beyond just music and includes all the other aspects that make life beautiful.

There is something to be said about the cultural maturity of a city when a festival of this magnitude can be executed right smack in the middle of an urban environment. As a cultural observer the profound impact that this event will have on our community will be incalculable in terms of culture. For a city that has struggled for a cultural identity outside of the late night lounge acts, "good-ole-boy" run town attitude and casino ascetic one can only imagine what the next ten years will be like for Las Vegas. The questions that are begged to be asked today are; Could this festival be the ultimate tipping point for Las Vegas' cultural scene? Could it change the ultimate rhythm of the heart beat of a community only known for it's dated "What Happens in Vegas..." marketing campaign? Only time will tell of course. But the good news is that we are here today to observe it, live it and be in it. So stay tuned for my next posts about the festival itself.

Culturally yours Paco...

For more information about Life is Beautiful please visit - http://lifeisbeautifulfestival.com/

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

Coffee with Kaizer... Musical happenings for the week of October 14...

Monday-Thursday October 14th-17th and Sunday 20th 5:00pm-6:00pm
beautiful classical harp music by Kim Glennie
Friday-Saturday October 18th-19th 5:00pm-6:00pm
Violinist James Harvey and Cellist Mert Sermet
performing a light mix of classical music
in the beautiful Autumn Garden of the
Bellagio Conservatory (large garden near the front desk, and self parking)
3600 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas NV 89109
Free and open to the Public
http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/botanical-garden.aspx

Thursday October 17th 6:00pm

Youth Orchestra concert by the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras
Henderson Pavilion
200 S. Green Valley Pkwy
Henderson NV 89012
$12, $8 students/seniors
more info: 702-385-2838
http://lvyo.org/events/#winter-concert

Friday October 18th 12:00-1:00pm
Gypsy Jazz group "The Hot Club of Zion" performs 1930-40's gypsy jazz
standards in the style of Django Reinhardt, Nathan Royal led guitar,
James Martak rhythm guitar, Liz Conway jazz violin, Kevin Schultz upright bass Jury Assembly Room
Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse
333 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas NV
Free and Open to the Public
free lunch served - bring ID
more info: 702-229-3515
http://thehotclubofzion.com/

Friday October 18th 7:30pm and
Saturday October 19th 2:30 and 7:30pm
Orchestra and Dance concert by the UNLV Symphony Orchestra and
the UNLV Dance department, program includes Nijinsky's original choreography and
Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faun" with
Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite" and
Stravinsky's Rite of Spring!
UNLV Ham Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
$18, $10 students/military/seniors
more info:702-898-5455

Saturday October 19th 6:30pm

Traditional Dance of Mexico by Ballet Folklorico Izel
Winchester Community Center
3130 S. McLeod Dr.
Las Vegas NV
$10 tickets in advance, $12 season pass
more info: 702-455-7340
website info
http://pac.unlv.edu/calendar.php?event_id=2090

Sunday October 20th 1:30pm

Bassoon masterclass by principal bassoonist of the Minnesota Orchestra
and the bassoon professor at the University of Minnesota John Miller
UNLV Doc Rando Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
Free and Open to the Public
more info:702-895-3332

upcoming

Monday October 21st 7:30pm
String Quartet concert by the Kronos Quartet, program includes
Philip Glass, Jimi Hendrix, Laurie Anderson, Jerry Garcia,
Clint Mansell and Richard Wagner
Smith Center Reynolds Hall

361 Symphony Park Ave.
Las Vegas NV 89106
$26-$125

Tuesday October 22 7:30pm
String Quartet performance by the Fry Street Quartet, they will perform Schubert
Britten and Ravel
UNLV Doc Rando Hall
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
$25
more info 702-895-2787

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

First Friday Celebrates 11 Years and Las Vegas Arts and Culture Celebrates 10 Years!!!

Not just does First Friday celebrate it's big 11th anniversary but my little arts and culture blog that could celebrates it official 10th anniversary this month! Who would have thought that we would have been around so many years. Especially in a city known more for the "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" hype than arts and culture. But as a Las Vegas native I know that my home town is so much more than a brand. There is a vibrant and ever expanding cultural scene that is making huge strides in shaking up the world that locals and visitors alike are used to.

So now that First Friday sets another milestone for itself, with great support from the community and like minded individuals, what next? Oh yes of course! First Friday is TONIGHT! So make sure to get your butts up off the sofa and head Downtown where Las Vegas comes alive with the zany and wild culture artists and their supporters have created. Besides its free and artists make great pets!

First Friday begins at 5pm and heads into the night. There will be lots of things for the kiddies to do! Pumpkin patch anyone?!

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...