Mission Statement 

 

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What Is Concert Opera?

Scaled down to allow affordable and mobile opera productions, concert opera entails the performance of an opera score by a group of singers, a piano accompanist and, where possible, a small orchestra. Each singer dresses in concert attire rather than in costume and can refer to the musical score. There are no sets, staging or special lighting. Even without these theatrical elements, the nature of the music combined with professional singers creates a dramatic and powerful musical impression.

Kansas Concert Opera productions also include English surtitles, projected above the singers, to enable the audience to follow the story, word for word. We find that this enhances the audiences appreciation of the show immensely and makes for a more rounded concert experience. 

 

Venues

Based in Emporia, Kansas, KCO performs at various venues in the major cities of Kansas, including  Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, Kansas City and others, collaborating with each area’s orchestras and choruses.