Classical musicians will be taking center stage during the final games of the World Series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
About 20, or as many as 60, members of the Kansas City Symphony, decked out in blue suits with blue accents, are scheduled to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" in the pre-game ceremonies of Game 6 on Tuesday night. Music director Michael Stern is flying back Tuesday afternoon in time to conduct.
And if the Kansas City Royals win against the San Francisco Giants - and tie the series - Major League Baseball has invited mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato to sing before Wednesday night's Game 7.
MLB's Matt Bourne confirms that DiDonato, an international opera star who grew up in Prairie Village, Kan., is not available to sing on Tuesday. DiDonato, "with her brilliant, plush and charismatic singing" as The New York Times writes, just performed the title role in Handel's opera "Alcina" at Carnegie Hall. But, if there's a Game 7, Bourne says, DiDonato plans to sing.
For the past couple of weeks, two petitions have been circulating including one calling for Joyce DiDonato to sing the National Anthem and another, asking that the Kansas City Symphony play along with DiDonato.
"We believe that Kansas City needs both major league sports and major league performing arts," said the Kansas City Symphony's executive director Frank Byrne in a release. "We are thrilled to support the Royals on their way to victory."
