West Side Story in Kansas City: Broadway flair meets opera style

By Hilary Stroh, 23 September 2018

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“Zambello refuses to make things quaintly antiquated”

Reviewed at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City on 22 September 2018

Bernstein, West Side Story

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

David Charles Abell, Conductor

Francesca Zambello, Director

Peter J. Davison, Set Designer

Jessica Jahn, Costume Designer

Vanessa Becerra, Maria

Andrew Bidlack, Tony

Gabrielle McClinton, Anita

DJ Petrosino, Bernardo

Brian Vu, Riff

J Robert Paisley, Doc

Sicily Mathenia, Rosalia

Julio Monge, Choreography

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

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

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.

*****

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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.