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
One of the things I love about the music business is the connections over generations of music making. For example, when I was in college at the Peabody Conservatory, my piano teacher Patricia Graham studied with Leon Fleisher, who studied with Schnabel, who studied with Leschetizky, who studied with Czerny, who studied with Beethoven. That … Read more
The Sound of Music is a beloved musical based on a true story that explores themes of love, family, and resistance in the face of adversity. Set in Austria during the years leading up to World War II, the musical accurately portrays the rise of Nazism in the region. While the show focuses primarily on … Read more
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
We here at Lyric Opera always ask our single-ticket buyer audience to consider becoming subscribers. We entice you with subscriber benefits like free ticket exchanges, reserved seating year-over-year, and discounted rates over the single ticket price. But, have you ever stopped and wondered why we ask you to become a subscriber or how your subscription supports … Read more
Do you remember the first time you saw The Sound of Music? For some, it was the classic 1965 film at a movie theater. Maybe it was in the living room of your grandparents’ house, or on a roll-out television in your elementary school classroom. The Sound of Music has an enduring charm that transcends … Read more
“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
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
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
The above words are sung by Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana. In this scene, Turiddu invites everyone for a drink at his mother’s tavern after Easter church service. Listen to Italian tenor Mario Del Monaco as Turiddu leading the toast! These same words—in a slightly more accessible English translation—also served as the opening toast at our … Read more
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