Lyric Opera of Kansas City Awarded NEA Arts Award for EVEREST

Lyric Opera of Kansas City General Director Deborah Sandler today announced that the organization has been awarded an Art Works award of $30,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of the Lyric Opera's 2017 production of Everest by composer Joby Talbot and librettist Gene Scheer, the second production of this important new work since its world premiere at The Dallas Opera in 2015.

The Art Works category supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

"The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America's artists and arts organizations," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support organizations such as Lyric Opera of Kansas City, in serving their communities by providing excellent and accessible arts experiences."

"Lyric Opera of Kansas City commits to producing works which give our audience an opportunity to experience the vitality of opera," said Sandler. "Everest, the remarkable first opera by British composer Joby Talbot and veteran librettist Gene Scheer, is just such an opportunity. This work tells the tale of a modern odyssey through a production that reflects state of the art technological and artistic advancements. The result is a theatrically thrilling adventure. I have a great belief in this work and thank the National Endowment for the Arts for its past and current support."

Everest tells the true story of climbers caught in a deadly blizzard on the world's tallest mountain in 1996. Talbot has written a remarkable score, and the imaginative and spectacular set design by Robert Brill gives a thrilling sense of the rigors and perils of the climb. Gene Scheer, one of contemporary opera's best librettists, has written a libretto that explores the motivations and relationships of those who are driven to such extreme challenges. The performances of Everest will take place at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on November 11, 15, 17 and 19, 2017. For more information, please visit 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.

Opera lovers can be fans of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @kcopera.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City is a member of OPERA America and this season is made possible with funding from Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, and the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation.

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2017-2018 Season at a Glance:

* Lyric Opera debut

NEW PRODUCTION

Eugene Onegin

Pyotr Tchaikovsky, 1897

Sung in Russian with English subtitles

Saturday, September 30, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 6, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 8, 2017 2:00 p.m.

Director: Tomer Zvulun

Conductor: Stuart Stratford *

Scenery Designer: Erhard Rom

Lighting Designer: Robert Wierzel

Onegin: Morgan Smith *

Tatyana: Joyce El-Khoury

Olga: Megan Marino

Lensky: JoNathan Johnson

Gremin: Paul Whelan *

Filipievna: Jane Bunnell

Monsieur Triquet: Steven Cole

Everest

Composer: Joby Talbot, 2015

Librettist: Gene Scheer

Sung in English with English subtitles

Saturday, November 11, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 17, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 19, 2017 2:00 p.m.

Director: Leonard Foglia *

Conductor: Nicole Paiement *

Beck Weathers: Michael Mayes *

Jan Arnold: Sarah Larsen *

Rob Hall: Andrew Bidlack *

Doug Hansen: Craig Verm *

Mike Groom: Mark McCrory

Rigoletto

Giuseppe Verdi, 1851

Sung in Italian with English subtitles

Saturday, March 3, 2018 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 9, 2018 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 11, 2018 2:00 p.m.

Director: David Gately

Conductor: David Charles Abell

Rigoletto: Leo An *

Gilda: Nicole Haslett *

Count Monterone: Andrew Gangestad

Duke: Scott Quinn

Maddalena: Zanda Šv?de

Sparafucile: Peixin Chen *

The Barber of Seville

Gioachino Rossini, 1816

Sung in Italian with English subtitles

Saturday, April 28, 2018 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 4, 2018 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 6, 2018 2:00 p.m.

Director: Michael Shell *

Conductor: Leonardo Vordoni

Lighting Designer: Kendall Smith

Almaviva: Jack Swanson *

Rosina: Cassandra Zoe Velasco *

Figaro: Jarett Ott *

Don Basilio: Peter Volpe *

Don Bartolo: Matthew Burns *

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