RSS 2.0 FeedJanuary 4, 2012, City Classics
Music and Dance Spring Preview
Classical music fans have a variety of terrific-looking performances from which to choose from January through June this year, so the time has come to get out your new calendar, pour over the schedules, and make your choices. For many of these events it is not too early to order your tickets, and some of them may already be sold out.
The Kansas City Symphony is bringing several outstanding guest artists to Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center this winter and spring. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma comes to Kansas City the weekend of January 20–22 to perform the ravishing Dvořák Cello Concerto, Kansas City’s own world famous mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato appears at the Kauffman Center March 23–25 for the first time, singing the music of Rossini and Heggie, the great pianist Yefim Bronfman returns to town March 30–April 1 for the Bartók Piano Concerto No. 2, and celebrated violinist Joshua Bell comes to the Kauffman Center June 15–17 for Lalo’s romantic Symphonie Espagnole.
The Symphony itself takes on two of the giant works of the repertory in the Mahler Symphony No. 2 February 3–5 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 to end the season June 22–24. This listener is most anticipating the concert of June 15–17, though, because it will feature not only Joshua Bell but also the Symphony debut of the new Casavant organ in Helzberg Hall, which will get a workout in the Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 (the “Organ” Symphony) with famed organist Paul Jacobs. That should be a classic.
Speaking of the Casavant organ, it actually will make its Helzberg Hall debut on March 10 at the Organ Dedication Concert featuring James David Christie. Be among the first to hear all 5,548 pipes.
February will bring a chance to immerse yourself in the music of Bach, as the Friends of Chamber Music, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance bring pianist Konstantin Lifschitz to town for a series of concerts at three different venues, including Helzberg Hall.
Also on the Friends of Chamber Music schedule are outstanding pianists Richard Goode (March 9) and Jonathan Biss (April 13) as well as Les Violins du Roy (January 27) and the Artemis String Quartet (April 27), among other artists.
Not to be outdone, the Harriman-Jewell Series is presenting two of today’s finest opera singers in the same month: the brilliant mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux (February 3) and the world famous bel canto tenor Juan Diego Flórez (February 19). In addition, Italian tenor Giuseppe Filianoti will make a debut recital on April 21. The series also presents the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra under standout conductor Jeffrey Tate (January 25) and the great pianist Murray Perahia (March 14), among others. It’s an embarrassment of riches.
Another great artist coming to town is violinist Simone Dinnerstein, visiting Yardley Hall under the sponsorship of the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College on January 28. The college will also bring to us the Tschaikowski St. Petersburg State Orchestra on March 4. Cellist Matt Haimovitz presents a classical crossover concert on February 18 at the Lied Center in Lawrence, and on April 21 the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance features violinist Jennifer Koh in recital.
In addition to the chamber music groups mentioned above, the Lied Center in Lawrence brings us the Chiara String Quartet on January 29, the Pro Arte Quartet is visiting the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance for a concert on February 1, and eighth blackbird, will perform at the Conservatory on March 4.
Opera aficionados have two markedly different productions from the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to enjoy, John Adams’ modern masterpiece Nixon in China in March and Giaochino Rossini’s classic comedy Il Barbieri di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) in May. The former opera, a first for Kansas City, features several of the same cast members presented by the Metropolitan Opera on a nationwide theater simulcast last year. The Rossini opera will feature Sandra Piques Eddy, the mezzo-soprano who made such a fine impression in the title role of Carmen last season. Other opera performances this spring include Peter Brooks’ La tragedie de Carmen (after Bizet) at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance in March.
For dance fans, you can feast your eyes on two Kansas City Ballet productions, a full-length performance of the Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet from February 17–26 and Masters of American Dance May 4–13. The latter will feature the choreography of Balanchine, Robbins, Martin, and Bolender.
Other dance ensembles coming to town include Parsons Dance on January 28 and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, both for Harriman-Jewell, on March 31. The Owen/Cox Dance Group performs Bottom of the Big Top and other works April 13–15, and Johnson County Community College sponsors Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater on February 3 and the Moscow Festival Ballet on April 28. This writer is especially anticipating the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance performance of Orff’s Carmina Burana on February 20 at Helzberg Hall, complete with choreography by dance department chair Paula Weber.
In other dance events, City in Motion Dance Company presents its annual Modern Night at the Folly on February 18, always a highlight of the dance schedule, and on April 27–29 the professional company performs its spring concert. The Wylliams/Henry Dance Company presents its always-enjoyable spring production in May.
Kansas City’s many vocal music organizations present us with a number of attractive alternatives this spring. The famed Kansas City Chorale under Charles Bruffy sings “Thirty Years of Favorites” on March 4 and 6, and on May 12 joins with Bruffy’s “other” group, the Phoenix Chorale, at Helzberg Hall to perform masterpieces of Russian composer Georgy Vasilyevich Sviridov.
On February 18 Timothy McDonald’s Musica Sacra presents Italian music of the mid 18th century, and the group tackles Haydn’s monumental Lord Nelson Mass on April 22. Krista Blackwood’s Octarium presents a concert of unaccompanied vocal works by local composers on March 3. The Fine Arts Chorale under Terri Teal presents a Valentine’s Day concert on February 14 and on April 21 performs a concert entitled “Earth’s Elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water.” Meanwhile, Arnold Epley’s Musica Vocale features music of the Baroque era on April 1 and “Four Centuries of Magnificats” on June 3. The Simon Carrington Chamber Singers presents their sure-to-be-splendid concerts on June 1 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral and June 2 at Corpus Christi in Lawrence.
For fans of contemporary music, the Kansas City Music and Electronic Arts Alliance presents a concert of electro-acoustic music for clarinet on January 14 and a season finale on April 21, while newEar presents concerts on February 11 (“Worlds Apart”) and April 28 (“Road Trip”). The Conservatory Orchestra of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance features a cantata by Chen Yi in its grand finale season-ending concert at Helzberg Hall on April 28, under the direction of Robert Olson.
And, lest you forget, as we wrap up the spring concert season don’t forget to reserve your tickets for the Sunflower Music Festival in Topeka in June, and for Summerfest in July, both of which will add sparkle to your summer.
City Classics Music and Dance Columnist; Classical Contributor
A lifelong classical music fan, Don Dagenais is a frequent preview speaker for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has taught classical music and opera courses at several Kansas City venues. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of performing arts organizations including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Lyric Opera Guild, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Opera Volunteers International, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Octarium, and the Friends of the Symphony. He has been the past president of most of these organizations and is current the president of the Friends of the Symphony.
Dagenais co-authored a history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, published on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (2007) and has written books on the histories of both the Lyric Opera Guild and Opera Volunteers International, as well as an introductory book for opera novices (Your Passport to the Opera). He has received several local and national awards for outstanding volunteer work for the arts, including a lifetime achievement award from The Coterie Theatre in 2000, the Kansas City Musical Club's annual award in 2001, a Partners in Excellence Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2002, a Bravo Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2004 and a community service award from the Daughter of the American Revolution in 2008 honoring him for his community service to the arts.
In addition to his music interests, Don is president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater and has served on the boards of The Coterie Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, serving as president of each organization. He publishes newsletters for seven arts organizations. When not involved in the performing arts, Don is a senior real estate attorney with Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has practiced law since 1976 after graduating from the Cornell Law School.
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