The 2008 Kansas City Puccini Festival production:
La Rondine
7:30 pm Saturday May 17, 2008
Folly Theater • 300 West 12th Street • Kansas City, MO
a Kansas City Puccini Festival performance
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams." --Willy Wonka
In January 2000, a small group of friends and I gathered around a pub table discussing our wants and needs as young musicians. Idle conversation turned into passionate pleas with one another to create something new, fresh and unexplored in this city. Finally, after many debates, the magic phrase was spoken: "I dare you to…"
The small group of friends sitting around the table that night all had several things in common, but one thread held us all together: our love for the music of Giacomo Puccini. I can't remember a single time when we were together that our conversations didn't turn to a Puccini opera, or where one of us didn't reach and grab our new "favorite" recording of Tosca or La Bohème. Hours were spent at the local music store looking at vocal scores dreaming of when we would do these operas. How would she sing that? How would I shape that phrase? Do you think so-and-so could sing that role? This is how we would spend our free days, and I can think nothing else that would have made me happier.
"…form a Puccini Festival." As soon as the last word rolled off the tongue of my friend, I laughed. Silence followed, which was rare for this group of friends. After what seemed like an hour, but had only been a few seconds, I replied "Sure. Lets do Tosca in May." Again, laughter ensued. We left that evening feeling inspired and ready to conquer the world, not knowing that none of us took any of it to heart. A couple of months later, I reminded my friends that we were performing Tosca in May. I had already booked the concert hall and started recruiting an orchestra. Cast members were franticly learning their roles while I was even more franticly learning my score. Suddenly our dream was becoming a reality.
After much anticipation, the festival week began and the Kansas City Puccini Festival was born. Tosca was performed with a 48 piece all-volunteer orchestra, 20 member chorus and soloists.
The years to follow saw the performances of Edgar (2001), La Bohème (2002), Manon Lescaut (2003), Madama Butterfly (2004), Turandot (2005), Il trittico (2006), and Tosca (2007). Additions to the festival schedule have included pre-performance lectures, lecture recitals, wine and cheese events and special dinners for some of our private donors. The Kansas City Puccini Festival orchestra is made up of musicians from all across the United States. People come on their own expense to spend a week performing this amazing music.
After the first two years, the KCPF moved from White Concert Hall on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus to St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. This wonderful space offered several challenges for the performers but served the festival well. The upcoming festival performance will be held at the historic Folly Theatre in downtown Kansas City.
-- Andy Anderson, Artistic Director