Homecoming: The Kansas City Symphony Presents Joyce DiDonato

Architect Moshe Safdie’s extraordinary new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts provides the stunning backdrop for a performance-documentary that profiles the Grammy Award-winning Kansas City Symphony, their vibrant artistic director and conductor Michael Stern, and the radiant, celebrated mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. This special tracks DiDonato’s nostalgic return to her hometown after a triumphant appearance with Plácido Domingo at The Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Homecoming: Behind the Scenes

Photo of a woman in a long, gold dress and man in a suit walking down a hall and talking

Parker Eshelman

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Joyce DiDonato and Michael Stern just prior to taking the stage.

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Parker Eshelman

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The control room at Helzberg Hall, ready for production of “Homecoming”.

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Parker Eshelman

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Joyce DiDonato gets camera-ready backstage.

Photo of a woman in a puffy silver dress dancing as the camera grew smiles

Parker Eshelman

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Joyce DiDonato shows off her Kansas City roots by kicking up her heels before she takes the stage for her encore.

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Lindsey Foat

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DiDonato shares some well-deserved champagne with composer Jake Heggie and the symphony's Frank Byrne and Michael Stern.

Photo of camera crew filming a a woman playing a violin

Chris Lee

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Sunho Kim, assistant Concertmaster, is interviewed for PBS Arts “Homecoming.”

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Chris Lee

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KCPT President and CEO Kliff Kuehl talks with the production team in control room at PBS Arts “Homecoming.”

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Chris Lee

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Camera operators prepare for Joyce DiDonato and the Kansas City Symphony to take the stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Photo of two men talking in a hallway while holding sheet music

Chris Lee

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Michael Stern consults backstage at Helzberg Hall.

KCPT

Deepest Desire

Jake Heggie is a contemporary American composer best known for the opera "Dead Man Walking." The woman at the core of that emotional story, Sister Helen Prejean, also inspired another song cycle, "Deepest Desire," based on her writings about her faith and the work she's done in the name of social justice. Heggie's friendship with Joyce DiDonato began even before she was cast in the New York

Homecoming: Extras and Behind

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KCPT

Deepest Desire

KCPT

Homecoming 101

KCPT

Raise the Roof: Steel, Glass and Wood