LOKC Amplified: November 2023

As we say so long, farewell to spooky season and transition into a time for gratitude, the days grow shorter and the sun sets earlier. The air becomes crisper, and it’s the perfect season for breaking out our coziest sweaters and sipping on warm drinks. Just like Maria in The Sound of Music, let’s take … Read more

Opera Dives Deep: Evolution of an American Musical

George Harter, founder of Kansas City’s own Music Theater Heritage joined Opera Dives Deep on Monday, October 16, 2023 to prepare audiences for The Sound of Music. His presentation, entitled Evolution of a Classical American Musical, explored the role of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II on the transformation of American musical theater from vaudeville sketches … Read more

The Sound of Music: Movie vs. Musical

by Beth Wamsley The Sound of Music is a beloved story that has captivated audiences for decades. Many people are familiar with the classic 1965 film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, but some are not as familiar with the original 1959 Broadway musical. While both the movie and the musical share the same source … Read more

LOKC Amplified: October 2023

“La commedia è finita!” These iconic words closed our first production of the 2023-24 season, and even before Lyric Opera could absorb the words and close ‘Cav/Pag,’ we’ve moved on to our next adventure, The Sound of Music. Do you remember seeing The Sound of Music for the first time? This writer does; I fondly … Read more

Opera Dives Deep: Verismo’s Creative Deceptions

Dr. Jane Sylvester, Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and noted opera scholar, joined Opera Dives Deep on Monday, September 18, 2023 to prepare audiences for Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci. Her presentation, entitled Verismo’s Creative Deceptions: The Fictions of the Italian South in Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, explored how—and why—practitioners of … Read more

Cav/Pag in Pop Culture

by Beth Wamsley Don’t know opera? Think again! Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci have left a mark not only on the world of classical music, but of pop culture. These two iconic works (often referred to together as Cav/Pag) have been referenced, parodied, and celebrated across various forms of media. Seinfeld Seinfeld has paid tribute to … Read more

LOKC Amplified: September 2023

It’s post-Labor Day, and fall is in the air in Kansas City. 🍂 Fall in Kansas City means the return of football 🏈 and activities like the Plaza Art Fair 🎨 and haunted houses 👻 in the West Bottoms. It’s also the return of world-class opera in our community! 🎵 Later this month, our ✨BRAND … Read more

Opera and Hip-Hop: Uniting Musical Worlds

by Beth Wamsley In the vast realm of music, seemingly distinct genres often find common ground. One such fusion lies at the crossroads of opera and hip-hop. While these genres may appear worlds apart, they share more than meets the ear! Storytelling and Emotion At their core, opera and hip-hop are mediums for storytelling and … Read more