Libby Hanssen

Libby Hanssen

Libby Hanssen covers the performing arts in Kansas City. She maintains the culture blog, “Proust Eats a Sandwich,” and writes poetry and children’s books. She holds a master’s degree in trombone performance from UMKC Conservatory and currently works at UMKC’s Music/Media Library.

Te Deum Antiqua and KC Baroque perform Kreuzige: A German Passiontide

Te Deum Antiqua and KC Baroque perform Kreuzige: A German Passiontide

In an early nod to the upcoming Christian Holy Week, Te Deum Antiqua and Kansas City Baroque Consortium presented Kreuzige: A German Passiontide in a virtual concert. These two period practice ensembles, choral and instrumental, combined forces to perform a selection of 17th and early 18th century works in a journey through the events leading […]

On the Move: Kansas City Ballet’s New Moves: The Broadcast Series

On the Move: Kansas City Ballet’s New Moves: The Broadcast Series

If dancers can’t be flexible, who can be? When the Kansas City Ballet announced that the spring in-person performances were cancelled, one could only hope they would pivot to something innovative and eye catching. What better mode than the company’s annual choreographic showcase New Moves? This season, it’s New Moves: The Broadcast Series, which premiered […]

Honors: Karen Brown

Honors: Karen Brown

“What have you learned today?” That’s how esteemed ballerina Karen Brown, now assistant professor of dance at UMKC Conservatory, ends her classes. She not only teaches technique, she teaches empowerment — training dancers to assess their progress internally, to extend their awareness of their bodies and to take control of their progress and careers.

Black Opera Meets Its Moment

Black Opera Meets Its Moment

For many, “Porgy and Bess” is the American opera. It’s also the most prominent (and controversial) example of Black opera. Despite featuring an all-Black cast, the creative team, George and Ira Gershwin and novelist DuBose Heyward, were all white men.

Comfort and Challenge: Friends of Chamber Music present new initiative, “Chamber Music Now,” with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center streaming concert

Comfort and Challenge: Friends of Chamber Music present new initiative, “Chamber Music Now,” with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center streaming concert

As we’ve navigated the last ten months, art has served two main purposes: to comfort and to comment. Arguably, these are often arts’ somewhat dichotomic emphases, no matter the era, but as we wrestle with our society’s value—or devaluation—of arts, with rampant artist unemployment or relief, loss of venue and access, stressed with uncertainty and isolation, […]

William Baker Festival Singers in “Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral”

William Baker Festival Singers in “Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral”

For many, singing is a non-negotiable necessity of holiday tradition. Unfortunately, that activity, without precautions, can be high risk for spreading coronavirus. William Baker Festival Singers, with the intention of spreading only holiday cheer, presented their annual holiday concerts while implementing strict safety procedures for performers and audiences. Traditions are strange things, ways of doing […]