Madama Butterfly Media Coverage

Madama Butterfly and the 2012-13 season open on Saturday and over the past week there have been all sorts of media and blog coverage about the Company’s production of Puccini’s classic.  Click on the headlines below to read the various articles or posts and don’t forget to check the Lyric Opera Blog tomorrow for a special video interview with Elizabeth Caballaro, who will be making her role debut as Cio-Cio-San.

Paul Horsley in The Independent
Lyric Opera Opens Second Kauffman Center Season

Robert Trussell in The Kansas City Star
Madama Butterfly soprano came to the US from Cuba as a child

Patrick Neas in The Kansas City Star
Classical Beat: Madama Butterfly

Crew Mantle at commandopera.com
The Dinyar Vania Interview
Madama Butterfly in Kansas City

To learn more about the Lyric Opera production of Madama Butterfly, click here.

The Barber of Seville Media Coverage

The Company’s production of The Barber of Seville opens this Saturday, which means there has been some press previewing and discussing the production.  Read the different news articles for The Barber of Seville below:

The Classical Beat with Patrick Neas in The Kansas City Star
‘Barber’ is the height of light, loony opera

Paul Horsley with The Independent
SHAVE AND A BIG LAUGH: Lyric closes season with classic Rossini opera
(you may need to scroll down to find the article)

The Barber of Seville press release

(this post will be updated as more articles become available)

The laughs are plenty in The Marriage of Figaro

The reviews are in and it’s official, The Marriage of Figaro is laugh out loud funny!  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 hails “Indeed, musically this production is a glorious affair. The Lyric has assembled some amazing singers who maximize the effect of Mozart’s intoxicating melodies.” Read the entire review here.

Paul Horsley of The Independent raves “The Lyric Opera’s new production of The Marriage of Figaro is well-sung, confidently acted and executed with a deft comic touch.”  Read the entire review here. (You may need to scroll down to find the review.)

Sarah Tyrrell of kcmetropolis.org remarks “Van Kooten’s cavatina, “Porgi amore,” was stunning, handled with poise and consummate diction. She seemed suprised by the audience’s boisterous ovation, but indeed Van Kooten deserved that enthusiasm and more.” Read the entire review here.

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

A night of “well-grounded comedic action”

Nili Riemer stars a Marie, Photo by Cory Weaver

The reviews are in and it’s official, The Daughter of the Regiment is HILARIOUS!  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 hails “Laughter flows frequently in comic opera because of the sense of humor of director Dorothy Danner…Riemer’s arresting soprano was gorgeous and blended well with Robertson’s tenor, which he exercised with masterful control, even when flawlessly reaching for high Cs.” Read the entire review here.

Paul Horsley of The Independent raves The Daughter of the Regiment “is an entertaining evening with strong singing and a generous portion of well-grounded comedic action.”  Read the entire review here. (You may need to scroll down to find the review.)

Tom Ryan of Present Magazine exclaims “This is enjoyable opera for first tasters and veterans of seasonal campaigns.”  Read the entire review here.

Sarah Tyrrell of KCMetropolis.org writes “Nili Riemer’s versatility was once again in full display on the Lyric stage.  From the start Riemer thoroughly embodied a carefully developed character; her Marie was a petulant, bright-eyed, utterly charming tom-boy.”  Read the entire review here.

Angie Fiedler Sutton of KCStageBlog writes “From the moments of the first sounds of the overture to the last moments, the music was flawless.”  Read the entire review here.

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

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.

Rave Norma Reviews

Brenda Harris (Norma) and Laura Vlasak Nolen (Adalgisa) star in Norma. Photographer Karen Almond

The reviews are in and the wait for a Bellini opera “was well worth it.”  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.

Timothy McDonald of The Kansas City Star raves “Let there be no doubt about it – Bellinian “bel canto” is here in Kansas City, and the wait was worth it… Harris and Nolen were a compelling pair of rivals…together the pair of sopranos was most impressive.”  Read the entire review here.

Paul Horsley of The Independent raved Laura Vlasak Nolen portrayal of Norma’s rival Adalgisa, “Her gorgeous voice is filled with complex colors and liquid fire – a lush mezzo imbued with multiple dimensions and feelings.”  Read the entire review here. (You may need to scroll down to find the review)

Lee Hartman of KCmetropolis.org hails, “Brenda Harris, in the title role, treated the 1100-member audience on Saturday’s opening night to a master class of vocal elegance and beauty…Nolen and Harris’ duets were amazing.”  Read the entire review here.

Tom Ryan of Abozzos.com says, “Bellini is not the name for an Italian delicacy or dish, but after experiencing his opera “Norma”, I came away feeling as if I’d consumed a seven course feast for the soul. The combined ingredients of the complex score, the performing artists with their incredible instruments of voice, the orchestras nuanced precision, elegant atmospheric sets, the resonant narrative of an occupying Roman Army and the occupied people of Gaul, and the subtle lighting offered a rich sensory experience.”  Read the entire review here.

Grace Suh of The Pitch writes, “In one of the most technically demanding roles in the opera canon, a supple-voiced Harris showed absolute focus.”  Read the entire review here.

COMMANDOpera.com hails: “Miss Harris in the opinion of COMMANDOpera is nothing less than an American treasure, and should be valued as such for the roles she determines to bring to life.”  Read the entire review here.

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

Pinafore called “difficult to resist”

The reviews are in, and HMS Pinafore is a success!

Robert Trussell, writing in The Kansas City Star, says “The Kansas City Star says “the inspired, loony sensibility of the Lyric Opera’s production of HMS Pinafoer is difficult to resist!” Read his full review here.

Paul Horsley, writing for The Indpendent, exclaimed the production is “highly accomplished.” You can read Paul’s review here.

Have you seen HMS Pinafore? Do you agree with the critics? Post your review here!

Reviewers love Tosca, do you?

Greer Grimsley and Lisa Daltirus

The reviews are in, and it’s unanimous — Tosca is a hit!

Paul Horsley of The Independent said “the season-opening production, which debuted September 11 at the Lyric Theatre, features one of the best lead casts that the company has ever assembled, at least in recent memory, and it had me utterly engaged for three hours.” Read the entire review here.

Tim McDonald of The Kansas City Star said “This is a production that shouldn’t be missed — an example of regional opera at its best.” Read the entire review here.

What do you think? Do you agree or have a different opinion? Share your thoughts by clicking “leave a comment” below.

Puccini’s “reality show”

Paul Horsley of The Independent previews the Lyric Opera production of Puccini’s Tosca, opening this Friday. In it, Lisa Daltirus (Tosca) discusses reality television and her character’s love of God and art.

Check out the story here.

Horseley on Pirates: “immensely entertaining and very, very funny”

Paul Horsley’s review of The Pirates of Penzance has been posted on the Independent‘s web site:

Director Dorothy Danner is not just blessed with unflagging imagination, she is also a former Broadway dancer and choreographer. As such, this Pirates contains two solid hours of intricate, solidly conceived choreography. Soloists and choristers alike must have worked as hard on the physical comedy as they did learning their roles. Barely a second goes by when there isn’t something interesting to watch…

The leads seemed made for their roles. Nili Riemer’s silver-bell coloratura was a delight on the ear, and it allowed her to add insider “quotes” from other famous coloratura arias in Mabel’s big “Poor wand’ring one” aria, which was deftly played and limpidly sung.

Chad A. Johnson as Frederic, the apprentice pirate, possesses a solid tenor that was consistent in all its ranges. His elegant stage movements were whimsical and assured without striking that “look-at-me-I’m-the-tenor” stance. Markus Beam as the Pirate King was the “hot dog” of the show, not just looking but acting like Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, but adding to it a golden baritone. He sparkled onstage…

You can read the entire review here.