A big and bold Turandot in Kansas City

Wendy Bryn Harmer (Turandot)

Brittany Olivia Logan (Liù)

Zhengyi Bai (Pang), Alex Smith (Ping) and Daniel J Lee (Pong)

By Hilary Stroh, 04 May 2025

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“the chorus prove the primal heartbeat of the whole opera”

Reviewed at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City on 2 May 2025

Puccini, Turandot

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Carlo Montanaro, Conductor

Garnett Bruce, Director

R. Keith Brumley, Set Designer

Mary Traylor, Costume Designer

James Sale, Lighting Designer

Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City Symphony Chorus

Wendy Bryn Harmer, Turandot

Diego Torre, Calaf

Brittany Olivia Logan, Liù

David Soar, Timur

Genaro Méndez, Emperor Altoum

Alex Smith, Ping

Zhengyi Bai, Pang

Daniel J Lee, Pong

Seungchan Hong, Mandarin

Porgy and Bess: Catfish Row arrives in Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 28th February

Francesca Zambello's magnificent production of the Gershwins’ American epic comes to the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

****1

Rockabilly meets Rossini: Cinderella at Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 3rd October

Michael Shell's sparkling new production of La Cenerentola, built locally, opens the season at the Lyric Opera Kansas City.

****1

It’s complicated: Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz in letters

Hilary Stroh, 27th September

Based on letters between Georgia O’Keeffe and her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, Kevin Puts’ The Brightness of Light at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City portrays marriage as a collaborative work in progress.

****1

Heavy symbolism in Kansas City's Roméo et Juliette

Hilary Stroh, 9th March

A visually captivating and lyrically authentic production by Doug Scholz-Carlson for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

****1

Pity and terror in Kansas City’s Cav & Pag

Hilary Stroh, 29th September

Shawna Lucey directs verismo's inseparable twins in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City's outstanding season opener.

*****

The Shining: powerful psychodrama from Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 11th March

“Here's Johnny!” Paul Moravec’s opera, based on Stanley Kubrick's film of Stephen King's novel, proves gripping in Eric Simonson's production.

*****

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Hilary Stroh

Hilary is an independent scholar and academic historian, based in DC. She has a background in violin, piano and ballet. Educated at Dublin and Cambridge, she has recently published her first two books.