This lecture series provides audiences with fresh insights from regional scholars and industry professionals to enrich appreciation and understanding of the operas in our season. Both established operagoers and curious newcomers alike are sure to make discoveries.
Opera Dives Deep is held at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Brookside Room, 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110.
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
From Here and There
Dr. Genaro Méndez, speaker
Dr. Stacy Méndez, speaker
Mica Méndez Bauer, speaker
- Monday, February 24, 2025, 7:00–8:00 pm
Join us for an overview of the rich story and music of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. Drawing on their own lived experiences, the Méndez family will provide an illuminated synopsis of the opera with insights into mariachi, Mexican American identity, and the Bracero program. This contextual journey will deepen your appreciation and understanding of the opera and its powerful themes.
Mexican-American lyric tenor Genaro Méndez has a versatile and wide-ranging career as a leading operatic tenor, chamber and solo recitalist, and voice professor. This spring, Genaro will make his Lyric Opera of Kansas City debut as Emperor Altoum in Turandot. Previous operatic performances include Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles, Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Alfredo in La traviata, Quint in Turn of the Screw, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte.
A Nevada native, Genaro is the oldest son of immigrant parents and was a first-generation college student. Genaro began his formal music studies at the University of Nevada, Reno where he studied under the late master teacher of voice and Nevada Opera founder Ted Puffer. Under Maestro Puffer’s mentorship, Genaro completed his undergraduate degree and performed in over thirty Nevada Opera productions as a chorus member, in comprimario roles, and as a leading tenor. He continued his musical studies at the University of Illinois, performing with world-renowned vocal coach John Wustman on a United States tour of the complete songs of Schubert. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oregon, studying under Milagro Vargas.
As a University of Kansas Professor of Voice, Genaro is a dedicated teacher of vocal technique, diction, and repertoire. His students have enjoyed numerous accolades, including placing in regional and national voice competitions, earning opera apprenticeships, and performing in leading roles with opera companies across the country.
Passionate about educational opportunity and equity, Stacy Méndez has worked for over twenty years at The University of Kansas (KU), helping first-generation, high financial-need students access and be successful in college. Most of her professional life has been in service of Kansas students whose families have worked in migratory and seasonal agriculture (i.e., meatpacking, poultry processing, dairy farms, feedlots, harvesting crops, etc.).
Having recently earned her doctorate in higher education administration, Stacy now serves as the director of Heartland CAMP, a federally-funded KU program that helps students from agricultural labor backgrounds make a successful transition during their first year of college. A mezzo-soprano, Stacy also has a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and sang for many years as a chorus member with Nevada Opera. In her spare time, she enjoys watching new generations of young singers develop at KU, singing occasionally with Lawrence community groups, and learning how to play the guitar.
Invested in systemic change in higher education, Mica Méndez Bauer has spent nine years working with underserved populations at The University of Kansas (KU). During her time with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Méndez Bauer advised students through the Hawk Link program—a student program intentionally crafted to support students of color, queer students, and undocumented students while they navigated their first two years at KU. Additionally, Méndez Bauer acted as a primary liaison for Support Services for Undocumented Students by aiding university offices in developing their offerings to serve students of all documentation statuses. Since 2022, Méndez Bauer has worked to transform graduate STEM education in ways that support the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, values, and experiences as the Education Program Coordinator for the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership at The University of Kansas. With a Bachelor of Arts in History of Art and a Master of Arts in American Studies, Méndez Bauer is passionate about food studies and performance studies, as well as the role of art in histories of oppression.
Meet the Artists of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
Octavio Moreno, Laurentino in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
Vanessa Alonzo, Lupita in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
Cecilia Duarte, Renata in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
- Monday, March 3, 2025, 7:00–8:00 pm
Meet the talented artists of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna! Learn more about their careers, their unique experiences bringing this groundbreaking opera to life, and the stories behind their performances. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and connect directly with the cast.
Mexican-American baritone Octavio Moreno received his Doctorate in Music at the University of Arizona. Moreno participated in the Young Artist Program at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, followed by the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Moreno won first place in the Linus Lerner International Voice Competition in 2018, third place in the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers in 2008, third place in the Carlo Morelli Competition in Mexico City, and first place in both the Mariana de Gonitch Competition in Cuba in 2001 and Premio Ciudad Trujillo in Peru in 2004. Moreno also represented Mexico in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2009, and the Paris International Competition in 2010.
Moreno has sung with companies such as the Chicago Lyric Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, Bellas Artes Opera in Mexico City, and the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, among others. Moreno premiered the roles of Moncada in Zorro, Xihuitl in the second-ever mariachi opera El Pasado Nunca Se Termina, and the Role of Laurentino in the first-ever mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. He has also appeared in roles such as Marcello in La bohème, Tonio in Pagliacci, Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan Tutte, Vronsky in David Carlson's Anna Karenina, John Proctor in Robert Ward's The Crucible, Germont in La traviata, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and Sourin in The Queen of Spades, and Belcore in The Elixir of Love. Mr. Moreno made his symphonic debut performing with the San Antonio Symphony in the Ginastera's ballet, Estancia, singing the Baritone Solo. Future engagements include Carmina Burana with Tucson Symphony, and General Moncada in Zorro with Arizona Opera.
A soloist in the GRAMMY® Award-winning album Duruflé: The Complete Choral Works, Cecilia Duarte has been praised by The New York Times as “A creamy voiced mezzo-soprano.”
Cecilia created the role of Renata in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, commissioned by Houston Grand Opera (2010, 2013, 2018); Châtelet Theatre in Paris, France; Chicago Lyric Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, The Fort Worth Opera, Teatro Nacional Sucre, in Quito, Ecuador, New York City Opera, El Paso Opera, Minnesota Opera, and Opera San Antonio. Other roles originated are Renata in El milagro del Recuerdo (Houston Grand Opera, 2019, and 2022; Arizona Opera, 2021); Dido in The Queen of Carthage (Early Music Vancouver and re: Naissance Opera); Jessie Lydell in A Coffin in Egypt, (Houston Grand Opera and the Wallis Annenberg Center in L.A.); Gracie in A Way Home (Houston Grand Opera and Opera Southwest); Harriet/First Responder in After the Storm (Houston Grand Opera); Alicia in Some Light Emerges (Houston Grand Opera); and Alma in “Boundless,” the first episode of Houston Grand Opera’s web opera series Star-cross’d.
Operatic roles: Linda Morales in Laura Kaminsky's Hometown to the World, Melissa in Alcina, Sarelda in The Inspector, Maria in Maria de Buenos Aires, and Loma Williams in Cold Sassy Tree, among others. Her experience in early music includes performances with Ars Lyrica Houston, Mercury Houston, Boston Early Music Festival, Bach Collegium San Diego, re: Naissance Opera, Early Music Vancouver, Pacific Music Works, Blue Heron, The Newberry Consort, and Tafelmusik. She is a vocalist in the Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, performing early and contemporary music.
Houston native Vanessa Alonzo embarked on her ranchera music journey under the mentorship of the late Alfonso Guerra at Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts. Since 2010, Vanessa has enhanced her vocal versatility through her participation in operatic performances, such as her role as Lupita in the first mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (“To Cross the Face of the Moon“) by José “Pepé” Martínez and Leonard Foglia.
Her portrayal of Lupita has earned nationwide acclaim, gracing prestigious venues such as the Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, El Paso Opera, and San Diego Opera, alongside the renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and Mariachi los Camperos. In 2015, Vanessa originated the role of Juana in Foglia and Martínez's second Mariachi Opera, El Pasado Nunca Se Termina (“The Past is Never Finished”), embarking on a tri-city premiere tour with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Diego Opera, and Houston Grand Opera. Her contributions continued with the premiere of Houston Grand Opera’s El Milagro del Recuerdo in 2019, reprised with Arizona Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Diego Opera.
Vanessa's talents have also captivated international audiences in France, Ecuador, Norway, Vietnam, and Ireland. In recognition of her influence and leadership in the music industry, Vanessa was honored with the Influential Latina Award at the Houston Mariachi Festival in 2023 and the International Leadership Award from the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation in 2014.
Previous talks
A Journey Through Art and Music
Dr. Neal Long, speaker
- Monday, September 16, 2024, 7:00–8:00 pm
This presentation on The Brightness of Light will delve into the origins of the composition, offering a glimpse into what awaits you at the concert. We'll also explore the fascinating lives and correspondence of Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz, whose remarkable careers and relationship inspired this work. Discover how their artistic legacy intertwines with composer Kevin Puts's creation in this unique blend of visual art and music.
Neal Long is the Director of Learning at Lyric Opera of Kansas City where he carries out the organization’s mission of education and community engagement with programs designed to promote artistic literacy in Kansas City and provide audiences the social-emotional tools needed to connect deeply with what they see on stage. An accomplished musician, Neal has performed leading operatic tenor roles throughout the United States and regularly serves as music director and director. A new music champion and enthusiast, Neal has premiered works by several composers and is responsible for overseeing the commission and production of three works for intergenerational audiences at Lyric Opera of Kansas City—Rachel J. Peters’ Sketchbook for Ollie, Rosabella Gregory and Dina Gregory’s The Haberdasher Prince, and Lori Laitman and Dana Gioia’s Maya and the Magic Ring. A passionate educator, Neal has taught at institutions including The University of Kansas and Missouri Western State University.
Illuminating Opera: The Art of Projection Design
Wendall K. Harrington, speaker
- Monday, September 23, 2024, 7:00–8:00 pm
Explore the fascinating world of modern projection design in this presentation led by Wendall K. Harrington, renowned as the godmother of the field. Dive into the intricacies of projection design and its transformative application in opera, gaining insights from Harrington's career. Attendees will also learn more about the visuals created for The Brightness of Light, enhancing the audience's experience through a marriage of art and technology.
Wendall K. Harrington’s career has embraced diverse disciplines including theater, publishing, and multi-image/video design and production. As a designer of scenic projections for the stage, her work has been seen on Broadway in Driving Miss Daisy, Gray Gardens, They’re Playing Our Song, My One and Only, The Heidi Chronicles, The Will Rogers Follies, Having Our Say, Company, Ragtime, The Capeman, and The Who’s Tommy. In opera, her work includes Werther at The Metropolitan Opera, A View from the Bridge, Die Gezeichneten, Nixon in China, The Photographer, Brundibar, Transatlantic, Grapes of Wrath, Rusalka, and Intelligence. Ms. Harrington is the recipient of many awards including a 2024 Tony Awards Honor for excellence in design, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the American Theatre Wing Award. Harrington is the head of the projection design concentration at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale.
Beaumarchais as Figaro: Genius in a Nobody
Dr. Felicia Londré, speaker
- Monday, November 4, 2024, 7:00–8:00 pm
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, the son of a humble watchmaker, rose through the eighteenth-century hierarchy by his genius. His youthful escapades in Spain captivated Europe but made powerful enemies who tarnished his reputation and legally classified him as a non-person. Beaumarchais used the power of laughter to sway public opinion through his brilliant plays The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Discover the amazing life that spawned the plays that became beloved operas.
Felicia Hardison Londré, Curators' Distinguished Professor Emerita, taught theatre history at UMKC for forty four years and supervised ninety M.A. theses. She specializes in French and Russian theatre as well as Shakespeare production history. In 1993, she was Honorary Co-Founder of Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. In May, this year, she presented a paper in Dijon on the musical compositions of James Reese Europe. She is currently working on an article on Love's Labour's Lost in France.
Other highlights for Dr. Londré include: dramaturg for Missouri Repertory Theatre (1978-2000), a term as Dean of The College of Fellows of the American Theatre at the Kennedy Center (2012-14), and president of the nonprofit KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 (2019-22). Publications comprise seventeen books, over sixty scholarly articles, and hundreds of reviews and journalistic pieces. Her 2007 book The Enchanted Years of the Stage: Kansas City at the Crossroads of American Theater, 1870-1930 won the Theatre Library Association’s George Freedley Memorial Award.
The Timeless Charm of The Barber of Seville
Dr. Martin Nedbal, speaker
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 7:00–8:00 pm
The Barber of Seville, Gioachino Rossini and Cesare Sterbini’s masterful comic opera, premiered in 1816. This beloved work captures the witty and vibrant spirit of its characters through Rossini's iconic musical style, reflecting the compositional trends and cultural atmosphere of early 19th-century Europe. Join us as we explore the rich plot, memorable music, and historical context that make this opera an enduring masterpiece.
Martin Nedbal, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Kansas, is the author of Viennese Opera and Morality in the Age of Mozart and Beethoven (Routledge, 2017) and translator and editor of The Published Theoretical Works of Leoš Janáček (Editio Janáček, 2020). His articles on Mozart, Beethoven, and Czech music have also appeared in many journals and books.
