Despite an underwhelming amount of corporate philanthropy, the fine arts manage to flourish in Las Vegas. Thus it was with a sigh of disappointment that I read the largely dispiriting announcement of the upcoming season at "The Performing Arts Center at UNLV."*

One would think that part of the purpose of bringing in touring performers would be expose us to the highest levels of quality, tantalize us with a glimpse of something better and thereby give our community new goals toward which to aspire. For instance, you'd think our own Las Vegas Philharmonic would have achieved sufficient respectability that ticket buyers might balk at being asked to shell out $$ for second- and third-string orchestras from overseas.

But no, the organizers who once hosted the Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Iceland Symphony will be giving us not Ireland's Ulster Orchestra or RTE Symphony but the beyond-obscure Dublin Philharmonic; not the Israel Philharmonic but the Jerusalem Symphony, which sounds like it could use the gig; not the Munich Philharmonic, let alone the Bavarian Radio Symphony but the erstwhile Graunke Symphony Orchestra, now rechristened the Munich Symphony. It's like setting out for Anaheim to take in a Los Angeles Angels game but pulling up short and settling for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Then there's a comely, Utah-based novelty act called the 5 Browns, touted as "the biggest classical music sensation in years." Boy, classical music must sure be in a dry spell, seeing as I follow it fairly closely and had never heard of the 5 Browns before today. They could fill the Liberace niche, but we've already got that covered.**

If it's a question of money, wouldn't it be better to pool one's pennies and get a single A-list orchestra instead of a trio of B- and C-listers? After almost 10 years, this is the first time I've looked at one of these season rollouts and thought, "They sure could do better."

*--Not to be confused with the downtown Smith Center, which is as yet unbuilt. "Performing Arts Center" is a catchall term that includes UNLV's Ham Hall, a multipurpose facility that serves several functions badly and none well (at least none that involve music or theatre). Naming it a "performing arts center" is like calling a pig an eagle: It sounds good, but don't expect it to fly.

**--I've seen this show and it's way beyond weird, mostly for reasons having nothing to do with Liberace. I can safely say it is the most unique entertainment experience you can find on the Las Vegas Strip.