Lyric Opera of Kansas City Announces Conductor Changes for 2013-14 Season

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Artistic Director Ward Holmquist today announced a change in two conductors for two productions of the 2013-14 season. The September 21-29 production of Bellini's The Capulets and the Montagues will now be conducted by Lyric Opera of Kansas City Artistic Director Ward Holmquist. Maestro Leonardo Vordoni will make his company debut leading a production in the 2014-15 season to be announced at a later date. The November 9-17 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute will now be conducted by Gary Thor Wedow. Ward Holmquist had been scheduled to conduct that production.

"I am thrilled to welcome Gary Thor Wedow to Kansas City for his debut with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts," Ward Holmquist stated. "He brings a particular strength in baroque and classical music and this production will flourish under his baton. Kansas City audiences are truly fortunate to experience his vibrant and lively artistry."

Conductor Gary Thor Wedow has established an enviable reputation for dramatically exciting and historically informed performances with opera companies, orchestras, festivals, and choral organizations throughout North America. In December of 2012, he debuted with the New York Philharmonic conducting Messiah, an occasion noted in the New York Times for 'a fleet, lithe orchestral performance, aptly complemented by the buoyant singing of the chorus'. Some of his most recent successes include Gluck's Orphée and Die Zauberflöte for the Seattle Opera, Le donne curiose for Wolf Trap Opera and Agrippina for Boston Lyric Opera. Maestro Wedow has been closely associated with New York City Opera for many years; most recently he led their Don Giovanni in the Christopher Alden production and last May conducted the New York premiere of Telemann's Orpheus. Highlights of his 2012-2013 season include La finta giardiniera for the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program and a return to Seattle Opera for a double bill of La voix humaine and Suor Angelica.

The 56th season of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Building on Greatness, will open with The Capulets and the Montagues, under the direction of Kevin Newbury and featuring Joyce DiDonato as Romeo and Nicole Cabell as Giulietta September 21- 29, 2013; followed by a new production of The Magic Flute featuring the production design of famed artist Jun Kaneko November 9 - 17, 2013; La bohème, with Katie Van Kooten as the tragic Mimì March 15-23, 2013; and a new production of Die Fledermaus with Kelly Kaduce as Rosalinde and Liam Bonner as Eisenstein. April 26 - May 4, 2014. Details of the season can be found at www.kcopera.org.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City was founded in 1958; it is one of the nations' premier regional opera companies and brings high quality live operatic performances to the people of the Kansas City area and a five-state region. Repertoire choices encompass original language performances of standard repertory as well as contemporary and American operas. The Company mounts productions that enrich the community it serves, as well as reflect the highest artistic standards of the profession. The Lyric Opera offers innovative and award-winning programs designed to further music and arts education both in schools and in the community and serves more than 18,000 students and educators each year.

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Photo from THE MAGIC FLUTE; Credit: Cory Weaver for San Francisco Opera.