Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Months after area arts and culture nonprofits saw a loss of funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, Gov. Mike Kehoe has vetoed millions more in state support.

The five-time Grammy winner and Kennedy Center honoree is the editor of "Music and Mind," a collection of essays on how music can positively impact our health. Fleming is coming to Kansas City Sept. 26-29 for a panel discussion and performances with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

The Lyric's Opera To Go program brings live performances to retirement communities across the Kansas City metro. For the residents of these communities, in-person concerts are an experience that can't be replicated by recordings.

With the world premiere of "The Haberdasher Prince," a one act opera by Rosabella and Dina Gregory, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City hopes to inspire and bring new audiences of all ages to the art form. Classical KC's Christy L'Esperance speaks with the Lyric's director of learning, Neal Long, about the story and production.

Born in Prairie Village, tenor Ben Bliss has a very busy international performing career, including performances at the Metropolitan Opera and the great opera houses of Europe. He will be starring in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City's upcoming production of "Romeo et Juliette." Brooke Knoll speaks with Bliss about his journey from Kansas to the great concert halls of the world, meeting his Juliet and what's on the horizon for him.

Before accepting the position of director of orchestral studies at KU's School of Music, Carolyn Watson says she was concerned about the inadequate salary she was offered, especially compared to the music school’s male orchestra leaders.

Listen on Saturdays at noon for the WFMT Radio Network Opera Series.

Conductor Michael Christie talks with Classical KC about leading the orchestra for Mason Bates' new opera about the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. We will find out what he hopes new and traditional opera fans take away from seeing the show, and hear selections from the opera.