The great Placido Domingo sang with the Wichita Grand Opera‚ and so did Luciano Pavarotti.

The biggest names in opera aren’t just singing and conducting in New York‚ Los Angeles‚ Vienna and Paris. They are also bringing their talents to Kansas‚ thanks to the Wichita Grand Opera‚ which was formed in November 2000.

“When the greatest stars come to New York‚ Chicago and Los Angeles‚ we want them in Wichita‚ too‚” says Parvan Bakardiev‚ general director and CEO of the Wichita Grand Opera. “Our goal is to be a strong international opera company with a Kansas flavor.”

By Kansas flavor‚ Bakardiev means that he likes to hire graduates of Kansas colleges to work on productions.

“Kansas was one of only two states that didn’t have an opera company in 2000‚” he says. “Many of the colleges in this state have music programs‚ but students had no place to work in Kansas once they graduated. Now‚ they can be part of a first-class organization that has a fantastic orchestra and chorus‚ or be part of the top-notch team that oversees lighting‚ sets‚ sound and costumes.”

The Wichita Grand Opera stages five productions during its annual season that runs from October through June. Most performances take place at the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center.

“When Pavarotti appeared here in 2002‚ we had to book the Kansas Coliseum because of the huge audience that wanted to see him‚” Bakardiev says. “But our home opera house is Century II‚ which is a fabulous place to perform and host top entertainers.”

So‚ exactly how does the Wichita Grand Opera book top entertainers who usually perform only at the most famous venues on the planet?

“A lot of tenacity and a little bit of luck‚” Bakardiev says. “Plus‚ I have 30 years in this business‚ so I’ve made quite a few good contacts in my time. In addition‚ we also try to book rising opera stars just before they hit it big.”

Such was the case in 2005 with singer Larisa Yudina‚ who debuted in Wichita with Lucia di Lammermoor and is now in demand all over the globe. The same goes for Annalisa Raspagliosi‚ who was on stage in Wichita in 2004 with La Traviata and has since starred in concerts with Pavarotti and Domingo.

“Ours is an opera company that strives for uniqueness‚ yet professionalism‚” Bakardiev says. “Our growing reputation now brings patrons from as far away as Kansas City‚ Tulsa‚ Topeka‚ Salina‚ Overland Park‚ Lawrence‚ Manhattan and Hutchinson. It is an exciting time to be part of the Wichita Grand Opera.”