KCMETROPOLIS.org
Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

The Friends of Chamber Music
Chanticleer and the Shanghai Quartet
Saturday, January 17 at 8 p.m.
Folly Theater
12th and Central, Downtown Kansas City, MO

Chanticleer is considered the world's leading male vocal group, and this weekend the group returns to Kansas City in a unique collaboration with the versatile Shanghai Quartet.

Chanticleer has developed a remarkable reputation for its vivid interpretations of vocal literature ranging from Renaissance to jazz, as can be heard on its numerous recordings, several of which are Grammy award winners. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Quartet melds the delicacy of Eastern music with the power of Western repertoire, from traditional Chinese folk music to the most challenging classical works. The Quartet regularly tours the great music centers of North and South America, Asia, and Europe, and has appeared frequently at New York's Carnegie Hall, as well as venues in London, Vienna, Prague and Australia, among others.  They have 24 recordings to their credit.

But that's not all.  This concert is of special interest to Kansas City audiences, because it will feature the world premiere of From the Path of Beauty composed by internationally renowned composer and UMKC Conservatory professor, Chen Yi.

In conjunction with the Chen Yi composition, The Friends is partnering with the Nelson-Atkins Museum to mount an exhibit in the lobbies of the Folly Theater comprised of large-scale prints of pieces from the Nelson's famous Chinese collection.  These pieces represent the Chinese dynasties referenced in Chen Yi's work.

Also on the program are
Ligeti's Papaine, Idegen Foldon and Magany, as well as the Ravel String Quartet in F major
and " Soupir" from Ravel's Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé.

For tickets call 816-561-9999 or online at www.chambermusic.org

 Kansas City Symphony
in partnership with the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Community Connections Performance
Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.
J.E. Construction Company offices
17th and Baltimore, Kansas City, Missouri

Members of the Kansas City Symphony will perform a free chamber music concert at the offices of J.E. Dunn Construction Company in the Crossroads District, the location of the acoustical model for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. This concert will give you an opportunity to learn more about the Kauffman Center and hear some of the great masterworks of the 20th century and beyond.

The musical program will include Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6, Stravinsky's Octet for Winds and Colgrass' Variations for Four Drums and Viola, as well as the Prokofiev Quintet Op. 39.

Unfortunately this event sold out quickly.

Kansas City Youth Symphony
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
with the Academy Orchestra
Saturday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m.
St. James United Methodist Church
5540 Wayne Avenue, Kansas City, MO

The Kansas City Youth Symphony has been presenting concerts of sometimes surprising sophistication for more than forty years.  It has toured far and wide, including trips to Eastern Europe and Italy within the past few years.  Its commitment to diversity among its instrumentalists adds to the broad range of its audience appeal.  This weekend the Symphony, expanded with the addition of somewhat younger students from the Academy Orchestra, performs a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day concert (the actual holiday is January 19) under the direction of Steven D. Davis, with Russell E. Berlin as music director of the Academy Orchestra.  The program has not been publicly announced.

Free admission. For more information visit www.youthsymphonykc.org

 Lied Center, University of Kansas
University of Costa Rica/KU Baroque Ensemble
Saturday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Lied Center, 19th and Iowa Streets, Lawrence, KS

The Lied Center has provided no information about this concert, but it sounds like an interesting alternative for Saturday, January 17 if you are in the Lawrence area.

Free Admission. For information visit www.lied.ku.edu

 Topeka Symphony Orchestra
American Heritage Concert
Saturday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.
White Concert Hall
Washburn University, Topeka, KS

If you are in the vicinity of Topeka this weekend, then you can catch the Topeka Symphony Orchestra performing a variety of American favorites including Aaron Copland's A Lincoln Portrait, Charles Ives' Variations on America, Michael Abels' Dance for Martin's Dream, Morton Gould's Amber Waves and Lucas Richman's Colonial Liberty Overture.

There is also a special family matinee that afternoon with discounted tickets.

For tickets call 785-232-2032 or online at www.topekasymphony.org

 Park University
Music for Two Pianos and Piano Duets
Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m.
Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
Park University Campus
8700 NW River Park Drive, Parkville, MO

This free concert will feature a quartet of excellent pianists: Stanislav Ioudenitch, Tatiana Ioudenitch, Marina Sultanova and Lolita Lisovskaya, in piano duets and pieces for two pianos.  The exact program has not been announced, but with players of this caliber it should be excellent.  And you can't beat the price!

Free admission.  For more information visit www.park.edu/calendar/arts

 Harriman-Jewell Series
Joyce DiDonato with Les Talens Lyriques
Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Folly Theatre
12th and Centeral, Downtown Kansas City, MO

We'll talk more about this one in next week's column, but you should definitely mark on your calendars for Wednesday, January 21, when the Harriman-Jewell Series will present Kansas City native and worldwide opera superstar Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano with Les Talens Lyriques at the Folly Theater.  Not to be missed!

For tickets call 816-415-4025 or online at www.harriman-jewell.org

By Don Dagenais

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.