Birth of Cool: Ray Ushikubo revels in Gershwin in Kansas City

By Hilary Stroh, 02 April 2023

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“tonight’s timpanists threw down their gauntlets energetically... with committed ferocity”

Reviewed at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City on 31 March 2023

Coleridge-Taylor, Hiawatha Ballet Music, Op.82

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

Nielsen, Symphony no. 4, "The Inextinguishable," Op.29

Thomas Wilkins, Conductor

Ray Ushikubo, Piano

Kansas City Symphony

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

Kansas City Ballet in Swan Lake: good girl vs bad girl

Hilary Stroh, 17th October

Swan Lake opens the season for Kansas City Ballet in a splendid looking production and with very pleasing interpretations.

****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

A big and bold Turandot in Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 2nd May

Lyric Opera of Kansas City ends its season with Garnett Bruce's blockbuster production of Puccini's Turandot.

****1

Kansas City Ballet's Don Quixote walks the wild side powerfully

Hilary Stroh, 22nd March

Kansas City Ballet's first love affair with Don Quixote is a striking and well-danced success.

*****

Kansas City Ballet’s ALICE: a riot of creative dysfunction

Hilary Stroh, 11th October

Webre’s screwball ALICE (in Wonderland) for the Kansas City Ballet is colorful and packed with excellent performances.

*****

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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.