by Libby Hanssen

"Andiamo reali! Go Royals!" cheered music director Michael Stern at the Kansas City Symphony's "Festa Italiana" performance on Friday night, happening concurrent to the Royals' ultimately successful battle for the American League pennant.

The turnout in Helzberg Hall was good, even so, and the orchestra with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus brought forth an impressive feat of operatic proportions. The concert featured famous choruses and orchestral interludes from some of opera's most adulated composers, with selections from Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini mixed with favorites from Gioachino Rossini, Ruggiero Leoncavallo and Pietro Mascagni.

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Source: http://www.kansascity.com/