KAKE | Parvan Bakardiev

So how does Wichita do it? The answer may be found with Parvan Bakardiev, a Bulgarian who makes Wichita his home and opera his life.

"I have deep passions for this county, this state and this city, because I think we can move mountains."

And there are mountains to move, As the director and President of the Wichita Grand Opera, Bakardiev is checking out the Century II hall where Placido Domingo will be in concert.

Located in Wichita's Century II the offices of the Wichita Grand Opera are in overdrive.

You can hear the telephone ringing off the wall.

"Yes sir, and I can actually show you your seat if you'll come down to the box office and pick those up."

"Can I get the information from you my dear? What is your name?"

"As soon as we get the tickets together, I'll get those mailed out to you. It will probably be mailed out either today or tomorrow."

(Pavarotti Singing)

Formed in 2000, the Wichita Grand Opera is Kansas's first professional opera company. Parvan and his wife Margaret Ann Pent run it. Margaret is a Diva in her own right, with performances all over the world. Here, she is the founder and artistic director of the company.

"I have everything ready but one musician."

(Placido Domingo Singing)

The appearances of Pavarotti and now Placido Domingo on this stage are the highlights of any season. People sitting in these seats at Century II will see something no other American Opera company has been able to recently do, two legends of the music world in the same year.

"For me, the most gratifying achievement in the past year has been when I saw people who have never been to an operatic performance at Pavarotti crying. Totally moved, yet not understanding the language. That shows you how powerful the music is, how timeless the opera is when it is delivered by the best of the best."

So how does he get the best of the best to come to Wichita?

"Those are colleagues of mine I have worked with throughout the years."

They are colleagues, because he's worked with them in other opera companies.

As the countdown towards Domingo's performance nears, so much to do. Yet, even with this success, Parvan has bruised some local egos—egos that are Wichita's upper class.

"At times I tend to be too demanding. Maybe perhaps abrasive."

But whatever he does works---the dream does work.

"The Wichita Grand Opera is going to be hear for many years to come, and I'm very grateful I've been able to make the music and to change some lives by exposing people to beautiful music, and to do something that I love, because most people don't have that privilege."