The Flying Dutchman Costumes discussed on KCUR

This week KCUR ran a piece about the costumes in the Company’s production of The Flying Dutchman, which has two remaining performances tonight and Sunday afternoon.  In addition to newly constructed scenery for this production, which we highlighted during construction, new costumes were also designed and created to fully realize the vision director Bernard Uzan and costume designer Mary Traylor had for the production.  Click the headline below to read or listen to the article about these amazing costumes, which were created by Kansas City Costume Company.

‘The Flying Dutchman’ Captain Cursed To Sail The High Seas
by Julie Denesha for KCUR

To learn more about the Lyric Opera production of The Flying Dutchman, click here.

The Flying Dutchman Reviews

Richard Paul Fink as the Dutchman in The Flying Dutchman. Photo by Cory Weaver

The reviews are in for The Flying Dutchman.  See what the critics said below and if you attended the show, share your experience.  As reviews come in they will be added.

Libby Hansen for The Kansas City Star
Lyric Opera’s ‘Dutchman’ takes risks with some success
“Richard Paul Fink performed the gloomy title role with a rich, strong baritone.”

Paul Horsley for The Independent
GETTING WITH THE PICTURE: Lyric production of early Wagner milestone has ups and downs
“”Richard Paul Fink performed the title role…with a strong sense of character and a wide range of moods and emotions…”

Sarah Tyrrell for kcmetropolis.org
“Dutchman” sets sail
“…commanding staging of ‘The Flying Dutchman’.” and “Citro was absolutely dazzling and astoundingly solid along with a fluid, resonant Fink…”

Kelly Luck for KC Stage
Lyric Opera “Flying Dutchman” review
“Ms Citro has an excellent Wagnerian soprano, and Fink’s Dutchman is brooding and mysterious.”

To learn more about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Flying Dutchman, click here.

Introducing The Flying Dutchman

The Company has distributed a press release announcing the upcoming production of The Flying Dutchman at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, which includes all new scenery designed by R. Keith Brumley, original costumes, and the return of internationally renown baritone Richard Paul Fink as The Dutchman.  Also included is information about programs related to The Flying Dutchman.  Read or download the press release below:

View this document on Scribd

To learn more about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Flying Dutchman, click here.

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.

Nine Days

The crew assembles the Rigoletto set

Rigoletto opens in nine days!  For an opera company, nine days can seem like a long time.   Right now the Company is busy preparing for Rigoletto and a flurry of activity can be found on the Lyric Theatre stage as the production takes shape.

 Just a few days ago the crew began preparing the technical aspects of Rigoletto starting with hanging the electrics and scrims.  The set for Rigoletto is from the New Orleans Opera Association.  Because of the size of the Lyric Theatre, sets aren’t loaded in until all of the electrics and scrims are hung, so everything has to happen quickly on stage.  After a day for hanging, the set in its many pieces was unloaded.  The pieces are being assembled by the crew, quickly putting together what amounts to a giant 3-D puzzle.  The good thing is that the crew has done this before, and even though they have never assembled this specific set, they will be finished with the main assembly by Friday.

Richard Paul Fink and Mary Dunleavy chat between photos

Because a part of the set has already been assembled it can be used by another part of the Company.  Today, the marketing department held a photo shoot with two of the principal performers.  With opera, the visual aspect is just as important as the audible aspect.   Lighting, sets, costumes, wigs, and makeup are all part of the visual aspect.  Being able to show the public as many of those aspects as possible helps portray an accurate visual of what to expect on stage.  This photo shoot of Rigoletto (baritone Richard Paul Fink) and his daughter Gilda (soprano Mary Dunleavy) is in full costume on part of the set.  The most dramatic images from the shoot will be used with advertising, and when combined with audio can give a quick summation of what the opera experience is like for both eyes and ears.

While sets are being assembled and cast members are posing for photos behing the curtain, Artistic Director Ward Holmquist rehearses with the orchestra in the pit.  Rigoletto has a large orchestra so it is a tight fit in the pit.  Each morning this week Maestro Holmquist and the orchestra will work their way through Rigoletto, focusing on one scene or act at a time.  Did you know the orchestra only rehearses 2 times without singers before the final dress rehearsals?

By next week rehearsals will move from our Production and Education facility to the Lyric Theatre stage where full stagings with the orchestra and singers will begin.

Guild Member Richard Byrum on Richard Paul Fink

Last summer a number of Lyric Opera Guild members made the trek to Seattle to see Der Ring des Nibelungen (a.k.a. The Ring Cycle).  Not only did trip members get to see quadrilogy that is Wagner’s epic drama opera, but they also got a preview of Richard Paul Fink, who will sing Rigoletto, as he portrayed the role of Alberich.  Among the trip attendees was Richard Byrum, who was gracious enough to share his thoughts on Mr. Fink with us in the article below (Subscribers can read this and more in the latest issue of Lyrical Enotes).

Richard Paul Fink As Rigoletto – Some Thoughts by Richard Byrum

The Lyric Opera Guild Wagnerphiles who went on the Seattle trip last August (of which this writer was one) had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Fink sing in three of the four operas that comprise the Ring tetralogy.  To a man, we were impressed with Mr. Fink’s portrayal of the toady Alberich.  And now we will see and hear him in the title role of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Lyric Opera.  Now, one might think that Mr. Fink has become a “baritone for all curses”.  We are joshing, of course, but it is not entirely an irreverent thought.  In those three operas of the Ring, Alberich raged mightily (for 15 hours, or so) after having launched a diabolical curse – a curse that eventually brought all of his taunters to a violent end.  Now we will have Mr. Fink as Rigoletto, and the jester shoe is on the other foot.  As Rigoletto, he will be the object of a barbarous oath launched by one Count Monterone, being the horrific “father’s curse”. Mr. Fink will have to reset his vocal emotions as the cursee now, instead of as the cursor. He will do this handily, of course.  The roles of Alberich and Rigoletto both require a flexible baritone voice, which Mr. Fink has in spades.  He is able to spin out a seamless melodic line, well-placed throughout the vocal range that is demanded of him.  But can he shade it to delineate the pathos that Rigoletto must show towards his dying daughter?  The answer is a resounding, yes.  That tendency was clearly shown in the second act of Die Götterdämmerung when Alberich approached his sleeping son, Hagen.  There was a parental softness there, with velvety tones, even though used for goading Hagen into murdering Siegfried.  But never mind the vile purpose, the velvety tones were definitely there.  This writer predicts that he Lyric Opera audience will be riveted to their seats during Mr. Fink’s portrayal of Rigoletto.  His stature will undoubtedly be established as a “baritone for all seasons”, when the final curtain falls.

10 questions with Richard Paul Fink

Richard Paul Fink as Rigoletto

We recently caught up with dramatic baritone Richard Paul Fink, who will be singing the title role in the upcoming Lyric Opera of Kansas City production of Rigoletto, to ask 10 questions inspired by our readers:

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

I started performing community theatre at the age of ten and always had an ear for musicals.  While I was a junior in high school I went on choir trip to see the Metropolitan Opera’s touring production of La Traviata with Robert Merrill.  A little voice in my head said, “this is what you will do!”

2.  Where did you grow up?

Massillon, Ohio.  A small steel mill and football town mid state Ohio, where I was recently honored as a “Citizen of Distinction.”  It is also home to Helen Hayes, Rose Bampton, Jan DeGaetani, David Canary, and a multitude of sports superstars. 

3.  Do you have any family?

Sharon; wife, President & CEO of Birkman International.  Three daughters; Margaret, Amy, Alexandra.  Alex/Lexi, is the singer/actress and this January/February she the lead in 42nd Street at Memorial High in Houston. 

4.  What is an average performance day like for you?

On performance days from 1:00 p.m. on, I focus on the show and maybe take a nap before a role like the title role in Rigoletto.

5. What is an average, non-performance day like for you?

When I am on the road on my days off I like to play golf and watch Sci Fi. When I am at home I like to do wood working projects and spend time with my family.        

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

 Just about any Verismo Opera

7.  Have you performed your role in Rigoletto before?

I have performed it at; Welsh National Opera, Opéra de Montreal, Calgary Opera, and covered it at the Met.  Having three daughters, the role touches me deeply. 

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

“Strasse Deutch”

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

I was a mascot, played flute, piccolo, and baritone sax in high school.  I have been a machinist, worked in welding shops, been a maintenance man at churches and apartments, loaded trucks with fabric to steel, and helped design own home.

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

I would like to be in Falstaff, Il Trittico, Kismet, Man of La Mancha, and Carousel.