Sin City Opera takes contemporary approach

Sin City Opera launches its sixth season this week with Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Consul" at the Winchester Cultural Center.

Gaining nonprofit status a year ago "really legitimized our company and we're here to stay," said Ginger Land-van Buuren, founder and executive director of Sin City Opera.

Menotti won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for his music in the gripping drama set in a post-World War II police state.

Land-van Buuren said Menotti's opera "is resonating with what's happening in the world right now with new regimes and the bureaucracy that's happening and how it affects the people living and leaving there."

Sin City Opera takes a contemporary approach, with its operas performed in English.

Opera dates: Nov. 13, 14, 20, 21 and 22. Starting time is 7 p.m., except for the 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 22.

Land-van Buuren attended a memorial Oct. 19 in New York for Ronald A. Wilford, one the most powerful figures in classical music, who died in June at age 87.

She accompanied Sin City Opera's board President Tanesa Whiting, Wilford's granddaughter. Wilford was considered the super-agent of classical music.

The addition of Whiting as president of the company's board should be a boost, said Land-van Buuren, "because she has this huge classic legacy and she wants to bring it to Vegas."

At her grandfather's urging, Whiting started her own company, Mixed Media Entertainment, about 15 years ago. The Las Vegas agency handles major headliner residencies in Las Vegas.

Paying homage to her grandfather at the memorial were opera stars Marilyn Horne, Kathleen Battle, Deborah Voight and four-time Academy Award winner Andre Previn, who is also a 10-time Grammy winner.

"My grandfather's first client was Marcel Marceau," the legendary French mime, Whiting said.

The scene and heard

Kenny Loggins will headline and comedian Brad Garrett will emcee the 20th annual Serenades of Life Doctors in Concert on Tuesday at the Smith Center. In addition to the lineup of musicians and vocalists, the group Alter'd Ego is performing, featuring the benefit's founder, Ed Kingsley. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

On this day

Nov. 9, 2009: Joseph "The Kid" Cada, 10 days short of his 22nd birthday, becomes the youngest player to win the World Series of Poker's Main Event at the Rio. The Michigan native, who began playing online poker at 16, takes home $8.5 million.

Sightings

At Sunday's Clint Holmes and Earl Turner show at Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center: Jack Jones, Bob Anderson, Susan Anton, Vincent Falcone, Antonia Fargas, Kelly Clinton Holmes, Mac King, Dennis Blair, Dennis Bono, Riva Rice and Pia Zadora ... Rapper Drake, celebrating a friend's birthday at Omnia nightclub (Caesars Palace) on Saturday ... Former Playboy Playmate Jessica Burciaga, playing blackjack at Lavo Casino Club (Palazzo) on Saturday before hosting there. ... At Tao (Venetian) on Saturday: Matt Kemp of the San Diego Padres, veteran pitcher Edwin Jackson, now a free agent, and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel.

The punch line

"Donald Trump is in the building getting ready to host 'Saturday Night Live.' There's actually a lot of anti-Trump protesters outside the building — or as Trump put it, 'Those people have been lining up for days to see me.' " — Jimmy Fallon

— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow him: @Norm_Clarke