Las Vegas, Nevada is home to some of the most innovative, spectacular performances that you’ll ever experience. Events and venues like the Super Bowl, Formula One, “Weekends with Adele,” and the Sphere earn Las Vegas the title of “The Entertainment Capital of the World;” but, what about the classical side of the machine, and in particular, classical singing? Here are some of the organizations that keep classical singing alive and thriving in the valley outside of the casinos.
The Opera Scene
Celebrating its twenty-fifth season, Opera Las Vegas is one of two opera companies in Las Vegas. Their vision is “To be a strong cultural force in the Las Vegas community, creating unforgettable moments of inspirational artistry and bringing diverse representation into new explorations of the art of opera.” The company has produced west coast premieres of new American operas like Approaching Ali and The House Without a Christmas Tree. This current season includes the world premiere of Behold the Man and the operatic staple La bohème along with concerts like “Pasta and Puccini” and “Celebración Latina.” The company also provides free outreach concerts and educational tours that feature local talent and engagement within the community.
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Typical seasons revolve around two to three mainstage productions with community concerts in between. The company recently shared auditions in Los Angeles, CA with Pacific Opera Project and has ad hoc auditions. They also cast a good balance of out of town and local artists in their productions. Having a strong connection with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this Opera America company provides opportunities for students and emerging artists as well. Learn more about Opera Las Vegas at https://operalasvegas.com/.
Vegas City Opera is a newer opera company in the valley. Their vision statement is: “VCO envisions an interdisciplinary hub of creativity, learning, and professional development for local artists. VCO hopes to provide a nurturing environment in which performers can take chances and flourish in their performances, all the while sharing the excitement and vibrance of contemporary opera with audiences of the Las Vegas Valley, tirelessly working toward a future where our communities embrace and seek out the opera arts.” The company in recent years has produced unique takes on traditional operas such as La BoDEAD, a zombie inspired twist on La bohème, or a 360° filmed modern day Gianni Schicchi. The latest season is comprised of a “Kings and Queens” concert, Daughter of the Regiment, and Donny G, an 80’s electronica influenced Don Giovanni.
Vegas City Opera also provides monthly concerts to promote new and obscure music. They typically hold auditions in October or November and have a broad reach in terms of casting and opportunities for younger singers and veterans alike. Learn more about Vegas City Opera at https://vegascityopera.org/.
The Choral Scene
The Las Vegas Master Singers is the chorus-in-residence with the Las Vegas Philharmonic as well as collaborators with the Nevada Ballet Theater and Opera Las Vegas. The organization is composed of local stakeholders in the choral community who want to keep large scale singing active and relevant. Recent projects include Carmina Burana with the Nevada Ballet Theater, Messiah with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and they are the chorus for Opera Las Vegas’ upcoming La bohème. The organization typically has auditions before the fall and has between four and six events per season. Learn more about the Las Vegas Master Singers at https://www.lvmastersingers.org/
The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society is celebrating its sixtieth season and are the resident choir for Andrea Bocelli at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena. The group is an umbrella organization for the Musical Arts Chorus and the Musical Arts Orchestra. They perform a variety of major works throughout the year like David Fanshaw’s African Sanctus and the Brahms’ Requiem, and typically program four to six events a year. Auditions are done on an ad hoc basis around seasonal concerts. They also use local singers as their soloists. Learn more about the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society at https://snmas.com/.
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The Desert Singers is a new choral group in Las Vegas founded Dr. Stephanie Council, who also serves as Artistic Director. It is uniquely comprised solely of treble voices. “The Desert Singers of Las Vegas is a professional-caliber choral ensemble with the heart and dedication of an amateur chorus. Members are professional performers and music educators based in and around Las Vegas who apply their musicianship and diverse experiences to each project.” Their first project was a complete performance of The Light of Hope Returning by Shawn Kirchner. The group is project based so each event requires a different rehearsal schedule. Auditions are ad hoc, and as a treble only group, they provide many more opportunities for the associated voice types. Learn more about the Desert Singers at https://sites.google.com/view/desertsingerslv/home.
