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Art Scene

PAT AND DICK AND CHIANG AND MAO: The First ‘CNN Opera’ Finally Appears on Met Gala

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DEBUT: Harriman series presents top tenor in his recital debut

HOMAGE TO HENRY: Orchestras, League commission top composer to honor visionary leader

BACH RETUNED: Local harpsichordists launch potentially revelatory Bach project

PASSAGES: Luskin will step down from top Lyric Opera post at end of first Kauffman Center season

REMINISCENCES OF MUSIC PAST: Symphony offers world premiere by promising newcomer

CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE BEAT AT A TIME: Percussionist joins KC Chorale for unique program

ROUSE IN THE HOUSE: American’s piece scores with audience at Symphony season opener

ROCK ON: New Parsons work tells love story using dance, visuals, rock music and — opera

WHITMAN SAMPLER: Choreographer confirms his place in pantheon of American heroes

EIGHT THAT STOOD AT THE GATE: In its seventh season, Octarium continues to refine and grow

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Young dancers talk about The Nutcracker and their roles in local production

JITTERS AND GENIUS: Kansas City Ballet’s The Nutcracker remains a local holiday favorite

TICKLE, FIDDLE AND TAP: The KC spring culture-feast begins

QUINK AND A NOD: Dutch vocal quintet slated for Venue Visitation sings music from nine centuries

CONCERTO WITH CONSCIENCE: Italian composer creates new work for Symphony, mega-flutist

UNEARTHLY VIRTUOSO: Pianist persuades through imagination, intelligence, muscle

BACH TO AFRICA: KC Ballet takes up choreographer’s daring fusion of ballet, African dance

TASHKENT DREAMIN’: Student-teacher piano duo headlines busy KC concert calendar

PYOTR, WE HARDLY KNEW YE: Musicianly conductor, spotty players present all-Tchaikovsky concert at the Folly

GET THEE TO A NUNNERY: Lyric Opera of KC presents star-studded production of Verdi’s tragic ‘Rigoletto’

JOSEPH’S MANY COLORS: UMKC Flummerfelt residency will culminate in performance of Brahms’ choral masterpiece

STILL BEATING: In Harriman-Jewell recital, Ma continues his quest to the heart of music

COULROPHOBE’S DELIGHT: Lyric Opera’s ‘Rigoletto’ offers world-class lead

STANDING ROOM ONLY: Choral guru whips students into near-professional-sounding ensemble

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR: KC’s world-famous chamber music series, is strongest among local seasons

MUSICIANS LOVE MAHLER: Symphony’s performance thrives on excellence of players

WHEN OLD IS NEW: Choir from Oxford’s not-so-new college to perform at Venue Visitation

ALL DOLLED UP: Harriman series presents Russian troupe in classic tale of love and dolls

DON’ BEDEVILLED: Lyric Opera production of Mozart classic falters

DOLLS ‘R’ US: Russian company brings classic to Harriman series

JUST DANCE: Ballet presents premieres by leading choreographers who just happen to be women

CONCERTO ROYALE: Kansas City Ballet reaches high with brilliant new work by British-born Oregonian

SOULS ON FIRE: Choreographer reenacts racial tensions of ’60s childhood

GREEN IN THEM THAR’ HILLS: Symphony in the Flint Hills

WOLFIE, WE HARDLY KNEW YE: KC Chamber Orchestra to finish season with Mozart classic

FAREWELL, AND HELLO: Ballet pays tribute to Barksdale, welcomes Lawrence native Armitage

PIRATES AT THE LYRIC: Gilbert & Sullivan standard keeps ‘em laughing

THE LONG GOODBYE: Guarneri and Johannes Quartets present engaging program for farewell tour

TB BLUES: Dunleavy’s Violetta makes Lyric Traviata worth the trouble

ANCIENT WINE IN NEW BOTTLES: Bagby makes medieval epic into rich cinematic drama

NO RESTRAINTS PLEASE, WE’RE BRITISH: Esteemed chamber orchestra devours Sir William whole

TALE OF TWO YURIS: Kansas City Ballet presents shimmering, sincere version of classic Firebird

PATHS OF BEAUTY: Kaleidoscopic new Chen Yi composition gets auspicious local premiere

Best Dozen 2008 Moments in Local Music and Dance

ELEGANT, SUMPTOUS, ECLECTIC TO A FAULT: Kansas City Ballet’s The Nutcracker opens to acclaim

RECITAL AS SEANCE: Ukrainian Pianist Seeks New Paths For Old Music

SUBTLY… NOT SO MUCH: Lyric Opera embraces Puccini’s most sensationalistic opera

AMENABLE TO THE ECUMENICAL: Summer Music at the Cathedrals uses music to bring faith groups together

BLOOD, THUNDER AND HIGH C’s: Lyric Opera opens season with a vocally arresting Tosca

GROWTH HAPPENS: Pianist shows he is moving in a more serious direction

ROOM AT THE TOP: Violinist again displays gifts that are winning over the classical world

THE INCREDIBLE LIGHTNESS OF BEL CANTO: Tenor builds dream

MEET ME AT THE STATION: Kansas City Ballet will have its own home downtown, at last

SKIRTING DANGER: Choreographer uses odd sartorial prop for striking duet

TITANIA VS CARMEN: Two feisty ladies make for fascinating weekend of dance and music

TOUGH CHOICES: Concerts feature two celebrated sopranos on the same night

VIVACIOUS VALKYRIE: Wagnerian soprano shows personal side in Harriman-Jewell recital

SHTICK TO THE BASICS: Lyric Opera’s Pinafore is best when it honors the authors

HEAD OF THE CLASS: Lyric presents timeless Gilbert & Sullivan satire of social order

EIGHT SINGERS, NINE COMPOSERS, ONE CD: Octarium sports ingenious new project