Unveiling Opera: Harmonizing Community and Creativity in Las Vegas

In this captivating episode of City of Dreams: Unveiled, we sit down with Ginger Land-van Buuren from Vegas City Opera and Dina Emerson, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, to explore the vibrant pulse of opera and performance art in Las Vegas. Ginger sheds light on how Vegas City Opera enriches the local arts scene through innovative productions and community engagement, while Dina shares her journey from the dazzling stages of Cirque to her current artistic endeavors. Together, they discuss the transformative power of opera and performance art in building community and fostering cultural growth in the heart of Las Vegas. Tune in to uncover the dynamic interplay between traditional opera and modern theatrical expressions right here in the City of Dreams.

Creators and Guests

Jeff Lund
Host
Jeff Lund
Jeff Lund is a seasoned professional with a multifaceted 20+ year career in the entertainment industry including iconic entities like Cirque du Soleil, Spiegelworld and Meow Wolf, where he has consistently demonstrated his expertise in fostering innovative ideas and driving significant business growth across the entertainment industry. With a keen eye for emerging market trends and a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Jeff has effectively leveraged his skills to mentor and guide aspiring Entrepreneurs, Artists, and Creatives towards realizing their full potential. In his latest endeavor, Jeff has embraced the world of broadcasting as the host of KUNV 91.5 radio show, City of Dreams: Unveiled. This platform is a testament to his commitment to giving a voice to Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Artists, allowing them to showcase their dreams and stories. Through this initiative, Jeff aims to inspire listeners by bringing to light the journeys, failures, challenges, and successes of today's visionaries, thereby fostering a community of like-minded individuals who are driven to make a positive difference in the world while creating more art.
Dina Emerson
Guest
Dina Emerson
Dina Emerson, mezzo-soprano and actor, has been living in Las Vegas for over 20 years. She first came to replace the lead singer at O by Cirque du Soleil and subsequently moved to Mystère by Cirque du Soleil where she sang over 5,000 shows. Since leaving Mystère in 2017, Dina has appeared in plays, operas and concerts around the Las Vegas valley as well as in NYC and the SF Bay Area. Before coming to Las Vegas, she lived in New York and was sought after for her ability to be a “vocal chameleon”. She toured the world with MacArthur award winning Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble and many other projects. She is also a vocal coach specializing in acting & staging lessons for singers.
Ginger Land-van Buuren
Guest
Ginger Land-van Buuren
Before moving to Las Vegas from New York City Ginger was a Portland Opera Resident Artist. While in NYC Ginger was well received by The New York Times and Opera News in the New York debut of An Incomplete Education, with The Bronx Opera, in which she sang the lead role of Gontron le Comte. In her professional operatic career Ginger performed with Palm Beach Opera, Dicapo Opera Theater, Pacific Opera, Opera In The Heights, Natchez Opera Festival, Portland Opera, Opera Astoria and the National Lyric Opera, singing the roles of Queen of the Night, Lucia di Lammermoor, Donna Anna, Madame Goldentrill, Constanza, Gilda, Cunegonda, Miss Wordsworth, Violetta, Musetta, Lady with a Hand Mirror, and Nella among others. Ginger also performs in concert across the country with her TechnOpera band OperaRisque’. Ginger is also a member of Actor's Equity and has performed as Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly, Madame de le Grande Bouche (The Wardrobe) in Beauty and the Beast, Ellie Mae in Showboat, Lucy in The Telephone, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel , Velma in Chicago, Rose Murrant in Street Scene, and Clara in Passion. As a member of SAG Ginger can be found on the big screen in the movie, Find Me Guilty, starring Vin Diesel and in the award winning short film Cold Dark Night Of Brilliance, in the role of the “Angel of Mercy” in which she performed and recorded the title track and is also the voice the “Laughing Opera Singer” in the Fandango commercials in theaters nationwide. After relocating to Las Vegas with her husband Christiaan, Ginger co-founded Vegas City Opera with Skip Galla Katipunan, and continues to perform with the company. Ginger feels very lucky to have found an amazing group of talented people to work with and call friends here at Vegas City Opera.
Unveiling Opera: Harmonizing Community and Creativity in Las Vegas
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