Mon, Mar 08, 2010
Those who enjoy fine dance performances have a treat in store this weekend with an opportunity to see the famed Martha Graham Dance Company perform at JCCC in one of its founder’s classics, "Clytemnestra," the ancient Greek legend of the murder of King Agamemnon by his wife. Originally performed in 1958, it became something of a cause célèbre among early feminists and is regarded today as one of the cornerstones of Graham’s creativity. Opera fans have four performances of Donizetti’s delightfully comic "l’Elisir d’Amore" (The Elixir of Love) to entertain them at the UMKC Conservatory of Music this weekend, while chamber music aficionados can bask in the strains of the world-famous Artemis String Quartet performing works of Beethoven for The Friends of Chamber Music. If Beethoven is too conservative for your taste, check out the newEar Contemporary Music Ensemble’s collection of modern pieces by Chinese American composers for the zheng. What’s a zheng, you say? Go to the concert and find out!
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Tue, Mar 02, 2010
For those with traditional tastes there is a wealth of Beethoven, Mozart Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Liszt and Chopin to enjoy this weekend. The KC Symphony brings guest pianist and musicologist Robert Levin to town for Beethoven, the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra brings us an all-Tchaikovsky program on Friday night, and the Kansas City Chorale gives you a choice of Saturday or Sunday performance dates for the romantic music of Brahms. On Sunday afternoon in Lawrence, the Albers Sisters will perform Beethoven and Mozart.
Lovers of the piano will have a chance to hear both Stanislav Ioudenitch and one of his talented pupils, Behzod Abduraimov, who won the London International Piano Competition in 2009, on Friday evening at the Folly Theater for The Friends of Chamber Music in a program of Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff.
There is also some dance on the offing, as the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company performs Friday and Saturday in the West Bottoms and the Kansas City Chorale actually brings a little bit of dance into its performances.
For this listener's taste, however, the highlight of the weekend should be Aaron Copland's monumental Third Symphony performed by the Kansas City Symphony. It is one of the masterworks of the last century, and will be a delight for your ears.
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Tue, Feb 23, 2010
Fans of the dance have a great week ahead of them with the KC Ballet's “Lambarena” beginning on Thursday. Warm up Wednesday with a free Alvin Ailey performance called “Setting the Stage: The Moving Story of African American Dance” and top the weekend off with a most unusual “The Aluminum Show” at the Lied Center. Orchestra fans can enjoy the Russian National Orchestra at the Folly Theater on Saturday night while the KC Symphony takes time off to appear in the pit for the KC Ballet. Meanwhile, on a smaller scale, the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra presents one of its “Baroque by Candlelight” concerts featuring Handel, Telemann, Bach and others. Opera fans have an unusual opportunity to see the original opera version of Gershwin's “Porgy and Bess” at Yardley Hall on Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday night too, affords a rare chance to hear a solo recital by a homegrown opera star, Vinson Cole, who is now a guest instructor at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance.
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Tue, Feb 16, 2010
The Kansas City Symphony features a world premiere flute concerto from Italian composer Luca Lombardi this weekend, along with chestnuts by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Rossini. The most exciting concert this weekend, however, will probably be the spectacular pianism of Canadian virtuoso Marc-Andre Hamelin, who appears with the Harriman Jewell series on Friday night at the Folly Theater. Fans of vocal music have a difficult choice on Saturday night, as Musica Sacra presents the “Music of Salzburg” with Mozart and Haydn (but it’s Michael, not Franz Joseph), while the gorgeously blended eight voices of Octarium sing pastiche masses by a variety of choral composers. Tough choice. Several other fine opportunities also await your ears, including a free concert Monday noon at the Carlsen Center with the Brookside String Quartet consisting of Symphony and Chamber Orchestra players.
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Mon, Feb 08, 2010
KC audiences will have not one, but two chances to hear the charming music of Stravinsky's "Petrouchka" this weekend. On Friday night pianist Stephen Prutsman, making his Friends of Chamber Music debut, will play excerpts from "Petrouchka" as well as works of Haydn, Ravel, Chopin and Bach. Then, the KC Symphony will present the full orchestral version of the same music, along with the Sibelius "Violin Concerto" with Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo in three performances over the weekend.
The international youth orchestra Philharmonia of the Nations appears on the Performing Arts Series at JCCC on Saturday, tackling Mahler's difficult "Symphony No. 1" (the "Titan"), and violinist Rachel Lee, longtime student of Itzhak Perlman, gives a free Discovery Series concert for the Harriman Jewell series that same evening. The Fine Arts Chorale presents "Heartfelt Voices" and several other fine community orchestras and choral societies also present Valentine's Weekend concerts.
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Tue, Feb 02, 2010
Dance programs dominate this weekend's schedule, with the City in Motion Dance Theatre's always-outstanding "Choreographer's Showcase" on Saturday night, featuring the work of ten local talented choreographers. Preceding it on Friday night is the athletic Pilobolus Dance Theatre at the Lied Center in Lawrence. Fans of vocal music will enjoy the Civic Opera Theatre's "Mozart: A Biography in Music" on Friday night, repeated Sunday afternoon, and have an unusual chance to hear the Dutch a capella group Quink at Visitation Church on Saturday evening. Also on Friday and Sunday the William Baker Festival singers perform in Kansas City and in Lawrence, respectively. For orchestral music fans, the lone selection this weekend is a good one: the UMKC Conservatory orchestra under Robert Olson performs Friday night. Sunday afternoon before the Super Bowl you have a couple of chances to hear excellent music performances. Jan Kraybill, the superb Community of Christ organist, will perform her annual free Super Bowl Sunday concert in Independence, and at Park College in Parkville, the International Center of Music artists will entertain you under the direction of Kansas City Symphony concert master Kanako Ito.
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Tue, Jan 26, 2010
The Friends of Chamber Music offers an interesting music of the aural and the visual with a performance titled "Tafelmusik - The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres" on Sunday afternoon. You will enjoy not only the splendid Baroque playing of Tafelmusik, but also remarkable images from the Hubble space telescope, all in honor of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's presentation of the astronomical telescope. A competing event on Sunday afternoon will offer the musicians of Summerfest in an unusual winter concert featuring the music of several composers, including Kansas City's own Susan Kander. For fans of the keyboard, UMKC piano professor Jane Solose will offer a recital on Sunday afternoon. Dance aficionados will have an opportunity on Thursday evening to experience the folk dances of Mexico at the Lied Center in Lawrence with Ballet Folklórico de México. On Sunday evening, wind instrument devotees will be able to hear the Kansas City Wind Symphony in concert.
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Tue, Jan 19, 2010
The exciting American-Israeli violinist Gil Shaham takes a star turn at the Kansas City Symphony this weekend for not one, but two of the 20th century's most ambitious violin concertos, the "Violin Concerto" of Samuel Barber and Sergei Prokofiev's "Violin Concerto No. 2." Both rank among the major string concertos of the 20th century. In addition, the concert features a Shostakovich symphony and Igor Stravinsky's ballet score to "Pulcinella," one of this listener's absolute favorite ballet scores ... it's worth a listen, even without the dancing.
Meanwhile, young mezzo-soprano Sasha Cook takes the Lied Center stage in Lawrence for a recital on Sunday afternoon featuring songs of Rossini, Berlioz, Mozart, Sondheim and Weill. It should be a treat.
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Tue, Jan 12, 2010
The KC Symphony’s concerts this weekend feature impressive guest conductor Bernard Labadie leading the local band in repertoire he knows well, that of Schubert and Mozart. Benedetto Lupo as the guest pianist will perform the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 18, a perennial favorite. If dance is more to your liking, there is a free performance by the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey on Thursday night and a tap dancing tribute at the Carlsen Center on Saturday. Rob Kapilow, the effervescent lecturer for The Friends of Chamber Music’s "What Makes it Great?" series, is back in town this weekend for discussions of Chopin. Among community orchestras, the Topeka Symphony launches the 2010 portion of its schedule with an interesting program featuring music based upon great heroes of history. This week offers a little something for each taste!
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Tue, Jan 05, 2010
The Kansas City Symphony will begin 2010 with a bang this weekend with the U.S. premiere of “Reflections” by Israeli composer Menachem Wiesenberg as well as classics by Dvořák and Brahms. Saturday night, The Friends of Chamber Music present the always-outstanding Takács String Quartet playing their forte - early and late quartets of Beethoven, as well as a charming quartet by Haydn.
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Tue, Dec 22, 2009
Kansas City’s classical music organizations have been treating us to some spectacular concerts the past few weeks, but during this Christmas weekend it all slows to a crawl as the musicians and dancers are, for the most part, taking well deserved rests before gearing up for the second halves of their seasons beginning in January. The one exception is the Kansas City Ballet’s performances of "The Nutcracker" which continue through the Christmas weekend, although not on Christmas Day. If you haven’t seen Todd Bolender’s conception of the Tchaikovsky classic this is your chance; it doesn’t conflict with any other performances on your calendar! The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is also at rest, but is featuring an interesting recital of two alumni performers next Monday. Next weekend is similarly slow, but watch this space in the next issue, because we will preview some of the performances to anticipate during the remainder of the classical music year in 2010.
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Tue, Dec 15, 2009
As we close in on the last weekend before Christmas the featured performances are undoubtedly the Kansas City Ballet’s renditions of "The Nutcracker," delightful both for its spirited and graceful dancing as well as for Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. The Harriman Jewell series presents the early music ensemble Parthenia in a holiday program featuring noted soprano Julianne Beard. The Kansas City Youth Symphony performs its winter concert, and several other organizations have pop-oriented Christmas programs.
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Tue, Dec 01, 2009
As we move into the first weekend of December an avalanche of holiday concerts awaits us. This is the time of year when we need to make difficult choices in our concert scheduling, having to choose between two, three or even four conflicting events on the same night. This weekend we have terrific-sounding performances by the Kansas City Symphony Chamber Players, the Civic Opera Theater, Octarium, Musica Sacra, the Fine Arts Chorale, plus a number of university events such as the Mid America Nazarene University’s performance of the entire Handel Messiah. In addition, a number of community orchestras and choruses are giving their renditions of holiday favorites. Take your pick!
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Tue, Nov 24, 2009
Kansas City classical music and dance organizations realized a long time ago that the Thanksgiving weekend was given over more to turkey and football than to cultural pursuits. As a result, there is only one classical event on the calendar for this weekend, although it's a doozy...the Kansas City Symphony and Chorus and the Community of Christ Independence Messiah Choir in an extravaganza performance of Handel's Messiah. Along with the Plaza Lights, it will be the perfect way to start off your holiday season! Next week begins a plethora of holiday programs, so stay tuned...
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Wed, Nov 11, 2009
The UMKC Conservatory of Music opera program with "Hansel und Gretel," begins this week. The KC Symphony season continues with the music of Sibelius, Ravel and a world premiere by contemporary composer Avner Dorman. Choral music fans will enjoy the the William Baker Festival Singers this weekend. And that’s just a little taste of all the great music that awaits you.
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Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Performances coming up this week include the Lyric Opera’s H.M.S. Pinafore opening on November 6 and two outstanding string quartet recitals, the Cypress String Quartet at the Lied Center in Lawrence and the St. Lawrence String Quartet with The Friends of Chamber Music at the Folly Theater. For fans of contemporary music this is the high season – the NewEar Contemporary Music Ensemble features the compositions of Steven Hartke, and the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is presenting an entire festival devoted to the music of octogenarian composer George Crumb.
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Tue, Oct 13, 2009
Kansas City’s arts organizations are in full gear now, and the next two weekends offer an overabundance of excellent performances. The 200th Mendelssohn anniversary brings us Symphony concert master Kanako Ito in the master’s Violin Concerto, and The Friends of Chamber Music presents the always entrancing group Anonymous 4, and the Harriman Jewell Series features British organist David Goode. And several community orchestras take the stage for ambitious programs of their own. Whew! Don’t complain about lack of choices, Kansas City!
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Tue, Sep 29, 2009
Another European star making a Kansas City appearance is the brilliant young cellist Alban Gerhardt, from the Netherlands, playing the ravishing Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Kansas City Symphony. For dance enthusiasts, the Virsky Ukrainian Dance troupe brings Eastern European dance movements to the Folly Theater stage under the sponsorship of the Harriman-Jewell Series.
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Mon, Sep 14, 2009
Yefim Bronfman appears with the Kansas City Symphony, Jane Solose solos with the UMKC Conservatory Orchestra, and James Cockman tickles the keyboard for the Kansas City Wind Symphony. Perhaps the most spectacular musician appearing on a Kansas City stage these weeks, however, is the brilliant young violinist Stefan Jackiw with the Harriman Jewell Series. His is a talent that must be heard to be believed.
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Tue, Sep 01, 2009
We have ballet coming up soon, along with Lang Lang in recital and the opening of the newEar and Lyric Opera seasons. It's enough to whet your appetite for the season to come!
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Mon, Aug 17, 2009
While there are not any classical music performances now through the end of the August, that's good news in disguise, for it means that most of our city's classical music organizations are getting ready for their new seasons! There's lots of exciting stuff coming up, and here's a a sampling of just some of the music and dance performances this fall.
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Sun, Jul 05, 2009
The justly-celebrated Summerfest chamber music series gets under way beginning July 11 with an intriguing program mixing contemporary works with Baroque classics.
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Tue, Jun 30, 2009
If you need a 4th of July musical fix, there are several community orchestra and band concerts in the area that will fill your ears with patriotic tunes, and perhaps deafen your eardrums with fireworks, as well.
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Tue, Jun 16, 2009
If you are an opera fan, your summer fix is here in the form of "Don Pasquale" with the Kansas City Civic Opera on June 26 and 28. And there's more!
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Mon, Jun 01, 2009
Gamelan music and an exciting collaboration with The Bach Aria Soloists and The Owens/Cox Dance Group kick off the summer season.
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Tue, May 19, 2009
The KC Symphony presents its final classical series of the season. Famed pianist Peter Serkin tackles Beethoven’s fiendish Piano Concerto No. 2 and a recent composition by Charles Wuorinen.
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Tue, May 05, 2009
For one of your rare chances to hear a chorus sing in elf-speech, check out the Kansas City Symphony's performance of "Lord of the Rings" Symphony on May 7 and 8 at the Music Hall. Also check out the many other classical offerings over the next two weeks...
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Fri, Apr 24, 2009
Many classical offerings in the metropolis as the season winds down to an end...
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Mon, Apr 13, 2009
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Philip Glass, Ivan Moravec, KC Chorale, UMKC
and much more
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Wed, Apr 01, 2009
KC Symphony with Emanuel Ax, Calder Quartet and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
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Mon, Mar 23, 2009
KC Symphony and Nicola Benedetti, Heartland Men's Chorus, KC Wind Symphony, Te Deum and more!
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Mon, Mar 16, 2009
KC Symphony Chamber Players, Guarneri and Johannes String Quartets, Estonian National Orchestra, La Traviata, Yevgeny Sudbin and much more!
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Mon, Mar 09, 2009
Academy of Ancient Music, La Traviata, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Topeka Symphony Orchestra
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Mon, Mar 02, 2009
Irish Spectacular, KC Youth Symphony, Bach Aria Soloists, Rob Kapilow and more!
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Mon, Feb 23, 2009
KC Symphony's "A Hero's Life." Beowulf, St. Paul by Mendelssohn, UMKC Masterclasses & Recitals
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Mon, Feb 16, 2009
Academy of Ancient Music with Julia Fischer, Jupiter Quartet, Wu Man, KC Civic Orchestra, Lawrence Chamber Orchestra and more!
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Mon, Feb 02, 2009
Tafelmusik, Danielle de Niese, Fountain Brass, KC Youth Symphony, newEar, Peter & the Wolf and more!
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Mon, Jan 26, 2009
Danielle de Niese, Formosa Quartet, Civic Opera Theatre, Superbowl Sunday Organ Recital and more!
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Mon, Jan 19, 2009
Joyce DiDonato with Les Talens Lyriques, Kuok-Wai Lio, piano with KC Symphony, Roby Lakatos and more!
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Mon, Jan 12, 2009
Chanticleer and Shanghai Quartet, KC Symphony, KC Youth Symphony, Lied Center and more!
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Wed, Dec 24, 2008
...this is also the time of year when can reflect upon some of the great events upcoming later this winter and spring and look forward to some terrific performances that are headed our way shortly...
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Mon, Dec 15, 2008
Kansas City Brass, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Bells-a-Plenty VII, A Kansas Nutcracker and more!
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Mon, Dec 08, 2008
Kansas City Symphony's Magic of Christmas, Ain’t Misbehavin,’ Bach Aria Soloists and more!
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Mon, Dec 01, 2008
Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, What Makes It Great?, Magic of Christmas.
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Mon, Nov 24, 2008
KC Symphony, Lionheart , Handel for the Holidays, UMKC Wind Ensemble
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Mon, Nov 03, 2008
Estonians, Jerusalem Orchestra, Judith and Julius Caesar.
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Sun, Oct 26, 2008
Alisa Weilerstein, Ax and Bronfman Duo, newEar, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and more...
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Sun, Oct 19, 2008
Don Dagenais assuages our fears that there is not enough classical music in the Metropolis
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Sun, Oct 12, 2008
Classical Column for
October 12-19
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