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.

Devil in the Details: Peter Oundjian conducts the Kansas City Symphony, with violinist Nancy Zhou

The vibe was celebratory during the Kansas City Symphony’s opening Classical Series concert of 2020 and it had nothing at all to do with the impending Chiefs game, though the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts was blasted with red light in support of the team. This year, organizations all over the world are commemorating the […]

January 18, 2020
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Honors: Haley Kostas

The hallway is blue lit and packed. There are large blue penguin sculptures in random places. In a bottleneck between two rooms, two hands rise up in the middle of the crush. A woman with flyaway blond hair starts to jiggle from foot to foot, creating more space around her than there was before.

January 16, 2020
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Kansas City Symphony Celebrates the Centenary of Isaac Stern

His gravestone simply reads, “Isaac Stern, Fiddler.” Born July 21, 1920, he became one of the most celebrated musicians of his lifetime. This year, institutions around the world — including the Kansas City Symphony — honor his contributions. “He was one of the supreme players, one of the great violinists of the 20th century,” said Michael Stern, music director for the Kansas City Symphony, and Isaac’s son.

January 13, 2020
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Lyric Opera Celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with ‘. . . When there are nine’

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment became law, stating, “The right of citizens in the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.” Looking toward the 100th anniversary of that event, Lyric Opera of Kansas City created a new production called “. . . When there are nine” for its Explorations Series, performed Jan. 18 at the Michael and Ginger Frost Production Arts Building.

December 27, 2019
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Kansas City Chorale’s “A Ceremony of Carols” is Joyful and Sophisticated.

I have never heard an audience boo and hiss during a concert before. But folks groaned when artistic director Charles Bruffy said they were cutting some songs from the Kansas City Chorale’s program during their sold out Friday concert, even though he announced the change wearing a festive, light-up stocking hat. The audience was not pleased at […]

December 14, 2019
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Arts News: Determined to Make a Difference

After a successful exploratory year, the Opus 76 quartet soars into its sophomore season with a well-defined repertoire, growing audience and a community-focused outlook. London-born violinist Keith Stanfield landed in Kansas City a little over six years ago, putting down roots with his wife, Kansas native violist Ashley Stanfield, and starting their family. Stanfield quickly […]

November 28, 2019
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