Some of the Best of 2010

Photographer: Karen Almond

In case you didn’t notice, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City was featured in a couple of year-end “Best Of” lists.  We are honored and exited that the Lyric Opera is seen as a great example of the arts in Kansas City.  With the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opening in September of THIS YEAR, the continued work on our Opera Center complex, and continued support from our patrons, we know that we can do even better in 2011.

Read what was said about the Lyric Opera:

The Independent:
Paul Horsley picked as his Big Twelve of 2010.

The Kansas City Star:
Patrick Neas recognized as the year’s high notes.

Sandra Piques Eddy Shines

Photographer: Karen Almond

The reviews are in and Carmen is a success!  See what the reviewers are saying below, and if you don’t think the reviewers got it right leave your own review in the comments section.

Robert Trussell of The Kansas City Star said “Mezzo-Soprano Sandra Piques Eddy is a memorable Carmen — a sexy balance of physical elegance and visceral appetites.”  Read the entire review here.

Paul Horsley of The Independent said that Carmen was “elevated by a handsome, versatile new set by the Lyric’s R. Keith Brumley, firm musical direction by Ward Holmquist in the orchestra pit and a captivating, vocally exceptional performance by Sandra [Piques Eddy] in the title role.”  Read the entire review here (scroll down to locate it).

Sue Patterson of Present Magazine said “Eddy’s compelling presence and impeccable performance convinced the audience that she was born to seduce Don José with her earthy, beguiling vocals.”  Read the entire review here.

Lee Hartman of kcmetropolis.org said “Eddy’s voice was as riveting as her stunning beauty. Her chest voice, especially on the lowest tones, was rich, warm and present.” Read the entire review here.

Do you agree, think the reviewers left something out, or want to share your opinion?  Write your review of Carmen in the comments section.

A sneak peak from a ‘Carmen’ rehearsal

We were able to get a look at the dress rehearsal of Carmen last night and figured it may be something that other people would enjoy. The excerpt below is from the famous ‘Habanera’ aria in Act I.

So, check out this taste of Carmen and get prepared to see the full thing!

Learn a little about ‘Carmen’

If you don’t know a whole lot about the background of Carmen there are plenty of stories in the media highlighting some of the different aspects of the opera.  You can learn about everything from the brand new set to the smokin’ hot Carmen, singer Sandra Piques Eddy.

Check out the links below:

Kansas City Star:
Eddy stars in Lyric’s ‘Carmen’
Scenery from Lyric Opera’s new ‘Carmen’ will go on the road

Present Magazine:
Preview: Carmen

94.9 KCMO:
Dick Wilson interview with Evan Luskin

The Pitch:
Carmen

Dos Mundos:
Lyric Opens with Eddy as Carmen (page 12)

The Independent:
READY, SET, DESIGN: Lyric’s scenic genius creates bold visuals for new Carmen (scroll down to read)

At Ease with Opera – Live Previews

If you are not too familiar with the music of Carmen you should definitely attend the At Ease with Opera presentation Love is a Rebellious Bird – The Carmen Story with Live Vocal Illustration tonight, September 20th, at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.  Vox Lumeniz, the choral ensemble of the Metropolitan Community Colleges, will perform excerpts from the opera.  More details on the presentation can be found here.

10 Questions with Mercédès

Christina Hager

We spoke with Christina Hager recently, who will star as Mercédès in Carmen, about how she is not the only opera singer in the family and what she says to get people to try opera.

1. How did your initial interest in the art form of opera begin?

Christina: I was always involved in musicals and plays. My parents were very supportive that we try a lot of different extra-curricular activities. When I was 17, I started taking voice lessons, and my teacher in Kansas City thought that my voice would be suited for classical music, so I applied as a music major for my colleges. I actually attended the Lyric Opera summer opera program for high schoolers before my senior year! I remember that we learned the Don Giovanni/Zerlina duet.

2. Where did you grow up?

Christina: I grew up right in Leawood, KS! I am glad to be back performing in my hometown and excited for my friends and family to be able to have my Lyric Opera debut in Carmen.

3. Do you have a significant other? Children? Pets?

Christina: My boyfriend is a tenor—so it’s kind of like having a child and a pet rolled into one. (I am totally teasing.) He’s a fabulous singer and an even more wonderful person. We love singing together and actually met doing a scene. We most recently performed a concert of Carmen together, he has Don José and I sang Carmen.

4. What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?

Christina: An average day usually finds me missing two trains in NYC. When I am doing a show, my routine is pretty boring—lots of sleep, vitamins, eating spinach every day, and getting to the theater super early.

5. What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?

Christina: That’s a really hard question. I think my two favorites are La traviata and Carmen. I have performed in both of them, and think they both have everything—love and romance, humor, suspense, dancing, amazingly sung music, and of course, sexy gypsies!

6. Have you performed your role in CARMEN before? If so, do you have any interesting anecdotes you can share about the experience?

Christina: Yes, I sang Mercédès a few years ago as a young artist. It was a wonderful experience. The Carmen was also named Cristina (which led to a little bit of confusion!) and brought her own castanets to rehearsal and taught me how to play. Because of the scheduling, there ended up being an oddly timed dress/tech—since I was covering Carmen, she asked if I would like to sing that day. It was very exciting being able to sing the Habanera on the actual set with the entire cast in costumes! It was a thrill.

Also, that very same month the city passed a law where there was to be no smoking ANYWHERE inside a building, so there was a scramble for fake cigarettes.

Additionally, during the Toreador’s aria, at the very end when Mercédès and Frasquita sing L’amour to him, I think he misjudged the distance between the Frasquita and himself—and he ended up licking her ear!

7. What is an interesting fact about you?

Christina: I think it’s a very special thing that both my brother and I are opera singers. Our parents exposed us to the arts, and encouraged us to try everything (sports, debate, writing, guitar, dance) and we both ended up as singers—and now we both will have sung with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City! I think it is special that we can share the dream together.

8. What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?

Christina: I grew up wanting to be a writer. I actually majored in English (along with music) and was flirting with the idea of going to grad school for English instead of music. Still, my love for reading and writing has always been there. I hope to write a book someday—in fact, I have 200 pages of my first one sitting on my computer, just waiting to be finished!

9. Is there an opera role you haven’t performed, but would like to perform the most in your career?

Christina: Charlotte in Werther. It’s incredible music, a beautiful story, and not often performed. I’d also love to do Adalgisa in Norma.

10. If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?

Christina: Opera has everything—romance, sex, murder, revenge, beautiful men and women—and it’s all live!

Tenor Prepares for Felonious Debut

Dinyar Vania in rehearsal as Don José in LOKC's upcoming new CARMEN

Today was the first day the singers and dancers were able to rehearse on the new CARMEN set in the Lyric Theatre. Among the other artists, tenor Dinyar Vania worked on stage to prepare for his debut in the role of the abandoned lover, Don José.

Click here to hear him in excerpts from Verdi’s REQUIEM, Puccini’s TOSCA and Donizetti’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR.

One week from today is the auspicious opening!

At Ease with Opera – A History of Carmen

If you are a fan of Carmen you should definitely attend the At Ease with Opera presentation Great Singers of the Past: Carmen and Her Suitors tonight, September 13th, at the Kauffman Foundation.  The presentation will be given by Lyric Opera Guild member Richard Byrum and will look at the performance history of Carmen.  More details on the presentation can be found here.

This flash performance is surprising, but not obscene!

Thanks to our friends at The City Market for hosting us last Saturday for a flash opera performance during their annual Pepper Party. Did you miss the fun? Not to worry — check out the video of the performance:

10 Questions with Frasquita

Apprentice Amy Cahill sings Frasquita in CARMEN

We recently spoke with Amy Cahill, our Frasquita and Lyric Opera Apprentice for the 2010-2011 Season, about her path to singing opera and why Carmen is an opera everyone should try.

1.  How did your initial interest in the art form of opera begin?

Amy: I performed in musical theater and was active in choir in high school, which made me decide to pursue a degree in voice at the University of Kansas. In college, I began to be exposed to the operatic repertoire and started attending performances, and I was soon a convert!

2.  Where did you grow up?

Amy: In the Kansas City area: Lenexa and Olathe.

3. How long have you been a Lyric Opera Apprentice?

Amy: This is my second year in the program.

4. What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?

Amy: Since I am still a student, my daily routine usually consists of going to class, teaching voice lessons, practicing, and going to some sort of opera rehearsal.  I have to start each day with a latte, and I enjoy working out or reading if I have time.

5. What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?

Amy: My first favorite opera was Les dialogues des Carmelites – it is such a moving story!  Recent additions to my list of favorites include The Rake’s Progress and The Ballad of Baby Doe.

6. Have you performed your role in CARMEN before?

Amy: This is the first time I have performed Frasquita in Carmen.

7.  What language(s) do you speak fluently?

Amy: I speak French fluently (and English too, of course!) and even received a minor in French with my undergraduate degree in Voice.

8. What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?

Amy: I am not one of the singers who only listens to classical music – I actually prefer listening to rock music or stuff by female singer-songwriters,  and even jazz when I’m driving in the car!

9. The opera role you haven’t performed, but would like to perform the most in your career?

Amy: I have several: Jenny in Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny; Manon in Massenet’s Manon; and Konstanze in Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail.

10. If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?

Amy: I would tell you that Carmen is a great jumping-off point into the world of opera because it is a well-known story full of love, passion, danger, and even crime (oh my!), and you would recognize many of the “hit” songs because they’ve been the background music of numerous TV commercials. You can come as you are (no need to get super dressed-up!), and with the expensive prices for tickets and concessions at movie theaters nowadays, a ticket to the opera just might be more affordable (and definitely more culturally enriching!) than a night at the movies. Plus you would be supporting the arts and local businesses.