Opera soprano Carol Vaness will discuss her life and career in opera, including her part in Pavarotti’s last performance at the Met in New York, on Tuesday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Truman Forum at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.

Born in San Diego, Vaness launched her professional singing career at the New York City Opera, where she appeared regularly from 1979 to 1983. Since then, she has sung on the world’s biggest stages and collaborated with today’s foremost conductors in operatic and symphonic repertoires. She has appeared on numerous television broadcasts throughout North America and Europe and has compiled an extensive and distinguished catalog of recordings.

Vaness’ interpretations of Mozart’s dramatic heroines – including Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Elettra in Idomeneo, and Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito – have been hailed as definitive, and she has become especially identifiable with the role of Floria Tosca.

Vaness is the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation visiting artist.

An Evening with Carol Vaness is co-sponsored by the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.