Lyric Opera of Kansas City: A Brief History
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City was founded in 1958 by Russell Patterson.  In 52 years the Company has produced numerous works including 4 world premiere operas.  In the fall of 1998, the Company began performing operas in the original language, a tradition which continues today with all operas being performed in the original language with English subtitles.

Read a complete history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City

The Company has published two books about its history, A View from the Pit by Russell Patterson and Fifty Years of the Lyric Opera: A Great First Act by Don Dagenais and Morton Creditor.  Request a copy by using the contact us feature.

The Lyric Opera Today
The Company currently produces 4 performances of 4 productions per season at the Lyric Theatre located at 1029 Central in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri.  The Company is heading into its 53rd season in which it is producing Bizet's Carmen, Bellini’s Norma, Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

A Look to the Future
In 2011, the Lyric Opera will move to its new performing home: the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.  The state-of-the-art theatre, designed by the creative minds behind the innovative Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, promises to be one of the greatest in the world.

Learn...about the Company's upcoming move to the Kauffman Center