Lyric Opera of KC to Present LA BOHEME at Kauffman Center, 3/15-23

Lyric Opera of Kansas City continues its 56th season with Giacomo Puccini's La bohème March 15 , 17, 19, 21 and 23, 2014 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

This glorious masterpiece with an especially strong cast continues the 2013-14 season, "Building on Greatness". Rising star Katie Van Kooten returns to the Lyric Opera after her acclaimed performance as Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro to sing the role of Mimì. She performed the role of Mimì at Houston Grand Opera and Royal Opera House to much acclaim. Opera News wrote of her performance with Houston Grand Opera, "Katie Van Kooten sang with a soprano of richness and warmth, which was a delight to the ears..."

Performing the role of Rodolfo marks the United States and Lyric Opera debut of tenor Giorgio Berrugi. Berrugi has performed in La bohème at the Festival Puccini and has sung several roles at the Semperoper Dresden.

General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler stated, "We have brought together a highly memorable cast. This is a group of artists that any company would be proud to have on its stage to bring to life one of greatest operas of all time."

Perhaps the most beloved opera of all time, La bohème follows the adventures of a quartet of irrepressible and impoverished young Parisians. When the seamstress Mimì and the poet Rodolfo fall in love, the fragile nature of life and love follow the course of the changing seasons. Puccini's tenderly beautiful music plays in counterpoint to the comic antics of the bohemians, creating and unforgettable and enduring masterpiece.

Directed by Linda Brovsky and conducted by Craig Kier, the cast of bohemians also includes Lucas Meachem as Marcello, Ellie Dehn as Musetta, Ben Wager as Colline, Marcus DeLoach as Schaunard and Rod Nelman as Alcindoro/Benoit.

Linda Brovsky's innovative productions are found on operatic stages throughout North America, including San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Glimmerglass Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Florentine Opera, Opera Pacific and Cincinnati Opera among many other with repertoire ranging from standard classics to world premieres. Recent credits include a critically acclaimed new production of Don Quichotte for Seattle Opera, Rigoletto for both Cincinnati Opera and Pittsburgh Opera, The Magic Flute for Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra, a double bill of Suor Angelica and Giannai Schicchi for Temple University, and Le Nozze di Figaro for IVAI in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The production will be conducted by Craig Kier, who is making his Lyric Opera debut. Mr. Kier has already established an impressive reputation during the 2013-14 season with his return to Atlanta Opera to conduct Il barbiere di Siviglia. At Houston Grand Opera he conducted performances of Die Fledermaus, the world premiere of the East + West chamber opera Bound, and served as cover conductor. Mr. Kier returned to the Houston Ballet for his third season as a guest conductor leading performances of The Nutcracker. Rounding out his 2013-14 season, Mr. Kier makes his company debut with Central City Opera leading The Sound of Music. Highlights in Mr. Kier's 2012-13 season included his Glimmerglass Festival debut conducting Weill's Lost in the Stars, his company debut at the Royal Opera House, Muscat, Oman leading performances of The Music Man, and appearances with the Houston Ballet conducting The Nutcracker and Peter Pan.

The Lyric Opera Apprentice Program is a collaboration with the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the School of Music at the University of Kansas. During the two-year program students gain experience and training with the Lyric Opera to become professional opera singers. University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) apprentices Samantha Gossard and Elliot Harrison Brown will perform in the chorus. University of Kansas apprentices Dominic Johnson will perform Sergeant and in the chorus and Tara Cooper, Michael Colman and Clark Weyrauch will perform in the chorus.

Principals Cast

Rodolfo: Giorgio Berrugi *

Mimì: Katie Van Kooten

Marcello: Lucas Meachem *

Musetta: Ellie Dehn *

Colline: Ben Wager *

Schaunard: Marcus DeLoach *

Alcindora/Benoit: Rod Nelman

Parpignol: Clark Weyrauch +

Custom-House Officer: Elliot Harrison Brown ~

Sergeant: Dominic Johnson +

Artistic Staff

Conductor: Craig Kier *

Director: Linda Brovsky *

Set Designer: R. Keith Brumley

Costume Designer: Martin Pakledinaz, from Seattle Opera

Lighting Designer: Steve Ross *

Wig and Make-Up Designer: Alison Hanks

Chorus Master: Mark Ferrell

Stage Manager: Jennifer Rimmer

*Lyric Opera Debut

~UMKC Apprentice

+ KU Apprentice

Ticket availability varies by performance. To purchase tickets, call Ticketing & Patron Services (816) 471-7344 or 1-800-OPERAKC (673-7252). Patrons can select their own seat and print their tickets at home by visiting www.kcopera.org. Limited student rush tickets are available for $15, one hour before the performances, with a valid student ID.

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