Lyric Opera Announces Season in Kauffman Center

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, one of the three resident companies at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, has announced its 2011-2012 season, its first in the new venue. As KCUR's Laura Spencer reports, the announcement began with a twist.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, Mo. – The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, one of the three resident companies at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, has announced its 2011-2012 season, its first in the new venue. As KCUR's Laura Spencer reports, the announcement began with a twist.

"Our season will close with...(music)...'The Barber of Seville,'" said the Lyric's Artistic Director Ward Holmquist. One by one, with musical hints, he listed the season's productions, including Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," the Lyric debut of John Adams's "Nixon in China," Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte", and the season's opener, a new production of Puccini's "Turandot."

"'Turandot' will be grand opera in the truest sense of the word," said Holmquist. "It will be the largest production in our company's history, including literally hundreds of artists on stage and the largest number of Kansas City Symphony musicians we have ever employed in a single work."

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opens September 16, 2011. The Lyric's season opens October 1, 2011.