Sylvia McNair News

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts presents a variety of performances for January-February. Check out the listings below! For more information, call 702-749-2000 or visit www.TheSmithCenter.com.

Wallis Center for the Performing Arts (aka 'The Wallis') presents Marsalis 'Well-Tempered': An Evening with Branford Marsalis, featuring the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, tonight, October 16 at 8pm in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

In Marsalis Well-Tempered, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, most commonly known for his work in jazz, tackles baroque oboe concertos on the soprano saxophone backed by a world-class chamber orchestra in two exciting programs, each on a different day, at Harris Center for the Arts. This is a terrific opportunity for jazz lovers following this artist to discover the magic of classical music, and classical music lovers to discover what a top-flight jazz artist can do when he sets his sights on a new genre of music.

Wallis Center for the Performing Arts (aka 'The Wallis') presents Marsalis 'Well-Tempered': An Evening with Branford Marsalis, featuring the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, on Thursday, October 16 at 8pm in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch will present the second season of Merola Goes to the Movies, the free, opera-on-film series.

In Marsalis Well-Tempered, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, most commonly known for his work in jazz, tackles baroque oboe concertos on the soprano saxophone backed by a world-class chamber orchestra in two exciting programs, each on a different day, at Harris Center for the Arts. This is a terrific opportunity for jazz lovers following this artist to discover the magic of classical music, and classical music lovers to discover what a top-flight jazz artist can do when he sets his sights on a new genre of music.

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch are pleased to present the second season of Merola Goes to the Movies, the free, opera-on-film series. Donizetti's powerful opera Anna Bolena will be screened this Sunday, September 21, at 1 pm in the Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch (100 Larkin Street). Doors for first come seating open at 12:30 pm.

Maddie Baillio is the 2014 winner of the Great American Songbook Vocal Academy and Competition. The 18-year-old is from League City, TX. During the finals concert tonight, July 25, she sang two American standards: "Misty," and "Murder, He Says."

High school vocalists from around the United States will compete tonight at the Center for the Performing Arts for the 2014 Great American Songbook Vocal Academy & Competition.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

Music Director Osmo Vänskä guides Orchestra's flagship classical series, September 2014 to June 2015, featuring a lineup of classical masterworks, star soloists and conductors

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch are teaming up for Merola Goes to the Movies, a new series that presents great opera-themed movies.

Singer/songwriter Ruth Carlin returns to the Laurie Beechman Theater this spring with an illuminating exploration of the eclectic repertoire of iconic folkie turned cabaret favorite, Judy Collins. 'A Light in the Window - Songs of Judy Collins.' Performances are tonight, May 17th at 7:30pm and June 12th at 7pm.

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch are teaming up for Merola Goes to the Movies, a new series that presents great opera-themed movies.

Minnesota Opera is pleased to announce it will present Cold Mountain, a new opera by the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner in music, Jennifer Higdon. This co-commission and co-produced opera with The Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia is based on the eponymous bestselling novel by Charles Frazier. Cold Mountain is the powerful account of one soldier, W. P. Inman, who deserts the Confederate Army as the war is coming to an end and makes his way back to his home on Cold Mountain. The novel won the 1997 National Book Award and was made into a film in 2003, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards. The Santa Fe Opera will present the world premiere in the summer of 2015, which marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

The internationally-acclaimed Pacific Chorale in Orange County, CA will be presenting a new work created by American opera composer Jake Heggie, and the versatile librettist Gene Scheer entitled 'THE RADIO HOUR'. The choral opera will be conducted by Pacific Chorale's Artistic Director, John Alexander, and stage-directed by James R. Taulli. The premiere work will be performed by the organization's chamber choir, The John Alexander Singers, accompanied by an 8-member ensemble of musicians who are members of Pacific Symphony. The performance is on Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA. Scroll down to see an interview with composer Jake Heggie and conductor John Alexander!

Singer/songwriter Ruth Carlin returns to the Laurie Beechman Theater this spring with an illuminating exploration of the eclectic repertoire of iconic folkie turned cabaret favorite, Judy Collins. 'A Light in the Window - Songs of Judy Collins.' Performances are May 17th at 7:30pm and June 12th at 7pm. The show will be directed by Scott Barnes, with accompaniment by Carlin's Musical Director, Paul Greenwood, on Piano, Dick Sarpola on bass and John Redsecker on drums. The Laurie Beechman Theater is at Westbank Cafe, 407 W. 42nd St. NYC. For reservations, call: (212) 695-6909.