January always feels like the longest month—whether it's the challenge of Dry January, 🍷 sticking to New Year's resolutions, 🏋️ or simply enduring the cold. ☃️ For Lyric Opera, it's been a productive start to the year as we put the finishing touches on an exciting lineup engaging opera. Highlights include the Kansas City premiere of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna 🎻 and the world premiere of the new family opera Maya and the Magic Ring. 💍
Looking ahead, we will announce the 2025–2026 season soon; current subscribers will learn about the upcoming titles before the general public, so keep your eyes peeled for that announcement to hit your inboxes in late February. Finally, don't miss the thrilling close to our season, Turandot, in the monumental production that launched the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in 2011!👑
CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA
Our next opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, will begin the second half of the Lyric Opera season! This production, featuring many of the original cast, will be accompanied by the GRAMMY® Award-winning Mariachi los Camperos. Cruzar follows Laurentino, who left his family in Mexico to find work in the United States. Decades later, facing his final days, he reflects on the meaning of home and family, seeking peace and closure in an emotional reunion that bridges the two cultures he straddled for so long. You won't want to miss this poignant and beautiful production!
Community Converstaion
Join Lyric Opera and the Kansas City Museum on Thursday, February 20, at 6:00 pm, for a vibrant exploration of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna and its resonance in our community. 🌙 This free, interactive event features food and drink 🍴🍹, live music 🎶, and an engaging look at Mexican American identity, immigration, and the Bracero Program's impact on Kansas City. 🌆 Celebrate the rich history and evolving influence of these communities as we envision our shared future! 🌟
This event is at capacity. To join the waitlist, click the button below.
Opera Dives Deep
Delve deeper into Cruzar la Cara de la Luna through our popular series, Opera Dives Deep. 🌊
📅 February 24 at 7:00 pm: Join Lawrence's Méndez family for an illuminated synopsis of the opera paired with an exploration of mariachi, Mexican American identity, and the Bracero Program. 🦋
📅 March 3 at 7:00 pm: Meet the extraordinary artists behind this groundbreaking production! Learn about their careers, experiences bringing this powerful story to life, and the personal tales that shape their performances. ✨
Maya and the Magic Ring
Be careful what you wish for! 🪄 This forty-minute new opera for families follows nine-year-old Maya, who discovers a genie’s jewel while her grandmother is away. Her first two wishes bring chaos instead of joy, teaching Maya that happiness isn’t found in wishes. 🌟Maya and the Magic Ring will tour Kansas City from March 27 through April 12, with free and ticketed performances—and daytime shows for school field trips too! 🚌
Becoming a REdwood
Join us for Becoming a Redwood: The Songs of Lori Laitman and Dana Gioia on Sunday, March 23, at 4:00 pm at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 🎶 This free recital celebrates the extraordinary collaboration between composer Lori Laitman and poet Dana Gioia, showcasing their remarkable artistic partnership. The program includes a world premiere song written for the occasion and concludes with a conversation and Q&A with Laitman and Gioia. 🌟 Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the emotional depth and beauty of their work, performed by Lyric Opera's Resident Artists. 🎹
Board Member Spotlight
As a former professional opera singer, I know firsthand the transformative power of music. I’ve witnessed the awe on kids’ faces during their first opera, or the silence of a crowd a thousand strong as a singer finishes an emotional aria, only for people to leap to their feet with tears in their eyes. Those moments stay with you.
Kansas City is incredibly fortunate to have Lyric Opera, a company with a rich history and deep roots in our community. The opera not only enriches our lives culturally, but also provides employment opportunities and countless music education for children across the region.
Joining the board allows me to combine my deep love of opera and the arts with my belief in civic engagement, serving our city and this art form. And bonus: I’m privileged to join my dad, Ken, who also proudly serves on the board!
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With public support from the State of Missouri and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.