Kentucky Opera Ends FY10 in The Black

 Kentucky Opera, LMNEditor  Comments Off
Aug 042010
 

The Kentucky Opera has posted a $7,000 surplus for the 2010 fiscal year, which officially ended May 31.


David Roth, Kentucky Opera’s General Director, says, “We are feeling the benefits of the restructuring we initiated in 2008. This new model made Kentucky Opera financially viable and artistically relevant. We maintained the three mainstage productions, added a concert opera in Owensboro and, more significantly, developed the Composer Workshop which will have long-term effects in our industry for years to come.”
The KOp managed to accumulate the surplus by moving to the Brown, for a savings of $200K, plus maintaining their grant connections and raising additional funds via their various fundraisers.


Traviata Rave-up, Ahn Trio Not So Much

 LMNEditor  Comments Off
Sep 272009
 

C-J columnist Andrew Adler raved about the Kentucky Opera’s new production of “La Traviata” in Friday’s Courier-Journal. His opinion about the appearance of the Ahn Trio at the IdeaFestival was not so enthusiastic.

Adler also did a lengthy piece of soprano Elizabeth Futral, who is the soloist in “La Traviata.”


The Week’s Print

 Jazz, LMNEditor  Comments Off
Sep 232009
 

The incomparable Cindy Lamb has a substantial write-up about the Alleycat Advocates fundraiser, featuring Love Jones, in this week’s edition of LEO. Splendid title, too “Kitsch As Cats Can.”

Bill Doolittle highlights the return of Elizabeth Futral to Louisville for the Kentucky Opera’s production of “La Traviata.” Futral last appeared with the Kentucky Opera’s 1993 production of “La Boheme.”

Mat Herron interviews Harvey Jones, 26, guitarist for Santiago, Chile, dance rock act Picnic Kibun, because he can.

Eric Condon reviews Rachel Grimes Book of Leaves CD. (He likes it.) Ethereal is the most common word used to describe Grimes’ music.

In yesterday’s C-J, Ken Neuhauser previewed the second annual Creation Festival: The Tour featuring Jars of Clay, Thousand Foot Krutch and Audio Unplugged (featuring Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss from the Grammy Award-winning rock group Audio Adrenaline)


Kentucky Opera 2009 Car Raffle Prize: A Porsche Boxster

 LMNEditor  Comments Off
May 122009
 

You still have a chance to win the Kentucky Opera 2009 Car Raffle, the prize being a Porsche Boxster. The raffle is limited to 2,000 tickets, at $100 per ticket. Lots better odds than the lottery or scratch-off. Buy your ticket(s) online at www.kyopera.org or call Michael Miller at (502) 584-4500.

The drawing will be held on May 16.


Kentucky Opera Gets Lucky

 LMNEditor  Comments Off
May 122009
 

The tale is familiar to anyone who has ever booked an event – the star you thought you had gets a more important gig and there you are, scrambling for a replacement. The Kentucky Opera found itself in just that position when Ailyn Pérez, set to perform the role of Violetta in “La Traviata,” Kentucky Opera’s opening production of the Brown-Forman 2009 Fall Season, was offered exactly the same role at the same time at Berlin’s famed Deutsche Staatsoper opera house. (Hard to pass that up.) As it happened, Neil Funkhouser, her manager, also represents the Metropolitan Opera star Elizabeth Futral, whose parents, coincidentally, reside in Louisville. Would the KO be interested in having Ms. Futral sing the part? [Cue the Pope-Catholic joke.] Of course, the KO had to go find a few extra drachmas from the Campaign for Artistic Excellence, but that’s what CAE is for. Deal done. < ?p>

“La Traviata” opens the 2009-10 Brown Forman Fall Season at the Brown Theatre on Friday, September 25, 8 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, September 27, at 2 p.m. Ticket info: 502-584-4500 or KYOpera.org


Sampson and Delilah Preview

 LMNEditor  Comments Off
Mar 242008
 

Over at the C-J, critic Andrew Adler has a preview of the Kentucky Opera’s production of “Sampson and Delilah,” with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves singing the role of Delilah and tenor Stephen O’Mara as Sampson.


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