Reviews
Reviews of recent Lyric Opera main stage productions can be found below. For press inquiries, contact Ellen McDonald, Publicity Consultant, at (816) 444-0052 or publicity@kcopera.org.
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Dec. 2022)
KC Parent: “Amahl and the Night Visitors: A Lyric Opera Production” by Kristina Light
The Independent: “Send the Very Best: Lyric Reprises Puppet Version of Holiday Classic” by Paul Horsley
La traviata (Nov. 2022)
The Independent: “Lyric Presents Distinguished Production of Verdi’s Well-Worn Tragedy” by Paul Horsley
Black Bee Buzz: “‘La traviata’ at Lyric Opera KC” by Lonita Cook
The Pitch: “Oh La… La Traviata: Lyric Opera of Kansas City offers thick drama and flamboyence” by Cassondra Jones
Carmen (Sept. 2022)
Bachtrack: “Bad girls make good opera: Carmen at Lyric Opera of Kansas City” by Hilary Stroh
The Independent: “REVIEW: LYRIC’S ‘CARMEN’ SUCCEEDS ON VOCAL PROWESS, UNCLUTTERED DIRECTION” by Paul Horsley
Tosca (May 2022)
Bachtrack: “Molten intensity: Marina Costa-Jackson a splendid Tosca in Kansas City” by Hilary Stroh
Schmopera: “Vaness Directs Electric Tosca in Kansas City” by Jane Richardson
The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Mar. 2022)
The Independent: “REVIEW: LYRIC OPERA’S JOBS OPERA IS FASCINATING, FRUSTRATING, AND FUN” by Paul Horsley
Bachtrack: “Opera for the iAge in Kansas City” by Hilary Stroh
SCHMOPERA: “A Psyche in Vignettes: Steve Jobs in Kansas City” by Callie Cooper
Broadway World: “Review: THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS at Lyric Opera” by Kelly Luck
Lyric Opera Goes to Hollywood (Nov. 2021)
KC STUDIO: “A Golden-Age Evening with Lyric Opera Goes to Hollywood“ by Libby Hanssen
Lucia di Lammermoor (Mar. 2020)
Bachtrack: “Lucia and the Lairds: Symbolically rich staging for Lyric Opera of Kansas City” by Hilary Stroh
Broadway World: “BWW Review: Lucia di Lammermoor at Lyric Opera of Kansas City” by Kelly Luck
LA BOHÈME (Nov. 2019)
Bachtrack: “Laughing on the outside, crying on the inside: La bohème in Kansas City” by Hilary Stroh
Broadway World: “BWW Review: La bohème at Lyric Opera of Kansas City” by Kelly Luck
KC Applauds: “La bohème enthralls at Lyric Opera” by Greg Cantrell
The Abduction from the Seraglio (Sept. 2019)
KC Studio: “Goons, Dames and Mozart: Hometown Tenor Debuts in Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s ‘The Abduction from the Seraglio’ Reboot” by Libby Hanssen
Broadway World: “The Abduction from the Seraglio at KC Lyric Opera” by Kelly Luck
The Independent: “Lyric’s wittily absurd ‘Abduction’ rides on fine performances” by Paul Horsley
The Pearl Fishers (Apr. 2019)
KC Studio: Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s luminous “The Pearl Fishers” resonates with modern imagination, by Libby Hanssen
Bachtrack: An unashamedly fabulous Pearl Fisher from Lyric Opera of Kansas City, by Hilary Stroh
The Independent: Visually Appealing ‘Pearl Fishers’ Entertains by Embracing the Opera’s Conundrums, by Paul Horsley
Cosi fan tutte (Mar. 2019)
Broadway World: Cosi fan tutte at KC Lyric Opera, by Kelly Luck
Bachtrack: The Great War of the Sexes: Cosi in Kansas City, by Hilary Stroh
The Independent: Analyze This: Lyric’s Cosi is scintillating fun…, by Paul Horsley
Madama Butterfly (Nov. 2018)
Broadway World: Madama Butterfly at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, by Alan Portner
KC Studio: Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Traditional “Madama Butterfly” Transforms as Opera of Our Time, by Libby Hanssen
In Kansas City: Review: Lyric Opera’s Madama Butterfly, by Brandon Tietz
West Side Story (Sept. 2018)
Broadway World: “WEST SIDE STORY at Lyric Opera of Kansas City” by Alan Portner
KC Studio: “An American Classic Lives Again in Dazzling Lyric Opera Production” by Robert Trussell
bachtrack: “West Side Story in Kansas: Broadway flair meets opera style” by Hilary Stroh
Opera Wire: “A Powerful Performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Masterpiece on Opening Night” by Freddy Dominguez
IN Kansas City: “Review: Lyric Opera’s West Side Story” by Lonita Cook with Michael Mackie
PerformInk: “Review: WEST SIDE STORY at Lyric Opera of Kansas City” by Bec Pennington
KC Applauds: “Lyric Opera Opens With Broadway Caliber Musical” by Bob Evans
The Barber of Seville (Apr. - May 2018)
Jessie Riggins for KC Metropolis
“Spectacular Spectacle”
Alan Portner for Broadway World
“The Barber of Seville at Lyric Opera of Kansas City”
Kelly Luck for KC Stage
“A grand, funny and wicked Barber of Seville”
Frank Siraguso for FrankieSez.com
“…the ancestor of 1930s screwball comedies”
The Independent: “In Review: Lyric Sings Lovely Barber, Splashing Color And Silliness Into The Mix.” by Paul Horsley
Rigoletto (March 2018)
Anthony Rogers for KC Metropolis
“Revenge is no joking matter”
Bob Evans for KC Applauds
“Revenge delivers tragic results in ‘Rigoletto'”
Marie Warner for PerformInk
“Review: RIGOLETTO at Lyric Opera of Kansas City”
Alan Portner for Broadway World
“RIGOLETTO at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City”
Bob Stewart for KC Stage
“Rigoletto Seems Timely Despite Traditional Setting”
Paul Horsley for The Independent
“In Review: Lyric Stages Workaday ‘Rigoletto'”
As One (January 2018)
Kelly Luck for KC Stage
A Thought Provoking As One at KC Lyric Opera
Anthony Rodgers for KCMetropolis
A shared journey
Everest (November 2017)
Sarah Tyrrell for KCMetropolis
At the top of the world
Kelly Luck for KC Stage
The Madness of Mountains: Lyric’s “Everest” a compelling modern work
Abigail Trabue for Perform Ink Kansas City
Review: EVEREST at Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Alan Portner for Broadway World
BWW Review: EVEREST at Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Paul Horsley for The Independent
In Review: Lyric Stages Tuneful, Visually Striking New Opera (And the Weather Outside is Indeed Frightful)
Eugene Onegin (Sept.-Oct. 2017)
Libby Hanssen for The Kansas City Star
Lyric Opera beautifully illustrates youthful regret in new ‘Eugene Onegin’
Kelly Luck for KC Stage
Lyric’s “Eugene Onegin” speaks of regrets, missed opportunities
Anthony Rodgers for KCMetropolis
Love while you still have the chance
Marie Warner for Perform Ink Kansas City
Review: EUGENE ONEGIN at Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Paul Horsley for The Independent
Timing is Everything: Lyric’s Intricate, Open-Hearted ‘Onegin’ Strikes to the Core of the Work’s Humanity
Kyle MacMillan for Opera News
Eugene Onegin