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

Kansas City Symphony
Stravinsky’s Firebird, Plus Sibelius
Friday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 9 at 8 p.m.
Lyric Theatre, 11^th and Central, Downtown Kansas City, MO
And
Sunday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m.
Yardley Hall, Carlsen Center at JCCC
12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS
For tickets call 816-471-0400 or online at www.kcsymphony.org.

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UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Conservatory Wind Ensemble
Friday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall
4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-235-6222 or online at www.umkc.edu/cto

Among the most significant of the many concerts given at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance each year are those of the Conservatory Wind Ensemble, directed by Joe Parisi.  The program for this concert has not been announced as of the writing of this column, but director Joe Parisi always has interesting selections for your hearing.



Lied Center
Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company
Friday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.
University of Kansas at Lawrence
1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, KS
For ticket call 785-864-2787 or online at www.lied.ku.edu

In Filipino, the word Bayanihan means patriotism or love of country, its root word being bayani (hero), a kind of hero who renders personal service to his community.  This traveling dance troop translates traditional folkdance to the modern stage. According to publicity information, “Bayanihan carefully advances into folklore and beyond, with Filipino history and national identity as its guide…. Each one of those involved in Bayanihan are literally national heroes and artist who reiterate through dance, music, percussion, dress and action what is Filipino.”



Harriman Jewell Series
Renee Fleming, soprano
Saturday, October 9 at 8:00 p.m.
Folly Theater
12^th and Central Streets, Downtown Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-421-5025 or online at www.hjseries.org

For the last dozen years or so, the name “Renee Fleming” has virtually meant “opera” to many aficionados throughout the world, and the reasons are clear to see: a crystal clear voice, used with great feeling and with impeccable technique. She has taken her place among the great sopranos of opera history. Her frequent appearance as moderator of the Metropolitan Opera’s popular opera simulcasts in movie theaters has revealed a charming personality as well, only adding to the star luster surrounding her.

Her appearance on the Harriman Jewell Series is sure to be one of the highlights of the series this year, and also a high point of the city’s opera season.  The recital is sold out, but beg, borrow or steal a ticket if you can!



Lied Center, University of Kansas
Turtle Island Quartet
Saturday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m.
1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, KS
For tickets call 785-864-2787 or online at www.lied.ku.edu

The Turtle Island Quartet returns to the Lied Center, with its unique style which “fuses elements of classical, jazz and rock music to create its own, distinct sound.” The group is celebrating 25 years of recording and performance this year, and will present a program featuring special guest artist Cyrus Chestnut, a jazz pianist, and mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall. Founded by violinist David Balakrishnan, the Quartet has composed two commissioned works for the Lied Center, including 2009’s Tree of Life.



UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Faculty Recital: Karen Kushner, piano
Sunday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall
4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO
Free admission.

Karen Kushner is one of the outstanding members of the piano faculty of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance.  This afternoon she performs a free recital at White Recital Hall.



Ruel Joyce Concert Series
Brookside Brass Quintet
Monday, October 11 at 12:00 noon
Carlsen Center Recital Hall
12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS
Free admission.  For information visit www.jccc.edu/performing-arts-series

The Brookside Brass Quintet is a group of freelance musicians from Washburn University, the UMKC Conservatory and other schools in the area. They can often be heard giving recitals for Young Audiences, but here you will have a chance to hear them in a setting for adult audiences.



Kansas City Ballet
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 16 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Lyric Theatre
11^th and Central Streets, Downtown Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-931-2232 or online at www.kcballet.org

The Kansas City Ballet opens its last season in the Lyric Theatre with a production featuring three performances.

Slaughter on Tenth Avenue is set in a tacky strip joint and tells the story of “a jealous Russian premier danseur who hires a mobster to kill a rival during the premiere of a new ballet,” according to the Ballet.  It features the music of Richard Rogers and a story by Hershy Kay, and is taken from Rogers and Hart’s 1936 musical entitled, appropriately enough, On Your Toes.  The choreography is by George Balanchine.

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ transcendent The Lark Ascending forms the musical backdrop for a ballet by Bruce Marks, who describes it as picturing “the eternal fight against gravity.” Mozartiana is, notwithstanding its name, set to the music of Tchaikovsky and the five-movement ballet is considered one of Balanchine’s classics.

Tchaikovsky pas de deux is also set to the music of the Russian master and is “a favorite of ballet audiences the world over.” An eight-minute display of ballet bravura and technique, the piece was originally composed at the last minute for the ballerina Anna Sobeshchanskaya dancing in the world premiere of Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake, and because of the late addition it was not included in the printed score.  The music lay unknown for a century until being discovered in the Bolshoi Theatre archives in 1953.  Because of its long absence from Swan Lake, it is often performed, as here, as a separate number in the classic Balanchine choreography.

Those with season tickets to this year’s Ballet performances have priority seating for Ballet subscriptions at the new Kauffman Performing Arts Center.



UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Conservatory Orchestra with Steven Jarvi, conductor
Friday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall
4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-235-6222 or online at www.umkc.edu/cto

In September the Conservatory Orchestra of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance performed under the baton of Michael Stern, music director of the Kansas City Symphony.  This evening the same orchestra will have a chance to perform under the Kansas City Symphony’s other conductor, Steven Jarvi, the Bruno Walter Associate Conductor of the Symphony.

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.