Philharmonic celebrating bicentennial

Yo, Freddie!

Happy B'day, buddy.

True, you're not looking all that well at 200, but you sound smashing, you legendary composer, you.

Yes, Freddie -- Frederic Chopin, if you must be formal -- turned the big 200 last month, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic is throwing a bicentennial bash Saturday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

That classical barnburner, Freddie's "Concerto No. 1 in E Minor," will be the centerpiece of the evening, with Ukrainian-born Valentina Lisitsa sitting in for the big guy on piano. Rounding out the blowout will be Edvard Grieg's "Symphonic Dances" and Claude Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun."

Preceding the shoutout to Chopin will be music director/conductor David Itkin's pre-concert lecture.

Here's to you, Freddie. Have some cake. But don't even try to blow out the 200 candles.

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.