Transcend Tradition
The Friends has always been known for its artistic excellence and the breadth of its programming, presenting artists of the highest caliber from all corners of the world. We have also been known for presenting the old and the new, the familiar with the unknown. This year we celebrate those traditions, but do not feel bound by them. We embrace tradition even as we transcend it. Our wish has always been, and continues to be, to challenge and refresh your creative and intellectual spirit with the power of great music.
This fall, the opening of the spectacular Kauffman Center will mark the beginning of a new era for the performing arts in Kansas City. Not since the reopening of the Folly Theater 30 years ago has our community had such an important space to adorn and house great music. To help celebrate the opening of the Center, the Friends of Chamber Music, together with The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, proudly co-present a highly experimental, multi-media event: The Darwin Project. This collaborative event brings together an impressive array of over 35 organizations and individuals for a joyous celebration of the life of Darwin whose scientific theory would change the world forever.
We are pleased that in addition to The Darwin Project, The Friends will present two other performances at The Kauffman Center: Chanticleer in their program entitled Love Story and a single concert by Russian pianist Konstantin Lifschitz performing Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” as part of our Bach Festival. That means that when you subscribe to either the Friends of Chamber Music’s chamber music or piano series, you will have the unusual benefit of hearing concerts in both The Kauffman Center and The Folly Theater. We invite you to come and admire the beauty and attributes of these two great halls.
As you can see, our upcoming season is exceptional for its collaborative energy. In yet another such initiative, we bring together The Kauffman Center, The Folly Theater, The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra with The Friends of Chamber Music to present The Bach Festival. Another first for the Friends, this festival is comprised of six concerts dedicated to the works of Bach and mostly centered on the work of a single artist: pianist Konstantin Lifschitz.
The Far East and Europe have had the privilege of hearing this artist perform in four consecutive nights the Well-Tempered Klavier, Books I and II; the “Goldberg Variations”; and “The Art of the Fugue.” Not only has this never been done before in the United States, Lifschitz is the only pianist alive who has the courage and endurance to play these immensely challenging programs in the space of a few days. And he does so exquisitely.
In addition to four solo keyboard concerts, The Bach Festival will include two additional concerts for a total of six. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the KC Chamber Orchestra, under its founder/director Bruce Sorrell, will present Konstantin Lifschitz playing two of Bach’s most beloved concertos. Kicking off the Bach Festival, the KCCO will present the complete Brandenburg Concertos (see pages 18 and 19). Come and hear for yourself why Bach’s works represent the “greatest and purist moment in music of all time.” (Pablo Casals)
But our collaborations don’t stop there. We proudly continue our partnership with the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance—Music Alliance—which is comprised of three splendid performances. In addition to Konstantin Lifschitz performing the “Art of the Fugue” for his final concert of the Bach Festival, we will present the Morgenstern Trio from Germany, and end the series with the young American violinist Jennifer Koh who will appear with the rising young star from Israel, pianist Shai Wosner.
Since 1985, The Folly Theater has been the primary home for the Friends. No other space in Kansas City offers the same warmth of sound and intimacy that our presentations require. As Kansas City’s finest recital hall, countless artists from all over the world have extolled its virtues and the hall’s unusual capacity to connect artists with audiences.
The Folly will continue to be the Friends’ home serving as host to several of the International Chamber Music Series concerts, Bach Festival events, and Master Pianists Series recitals. Together with Konstantin Lifschitz, Richard Goode and Jonathan Biss will guarantee piano lovers an exhilarating season of intensely moving music-making. The Folly will also house other artists of the International Chamber Music Series including two extraordinary string quartets—the Tokyo and the Artemis. Bernard Labadie conducts Les Violons du Roy (“Violins of the King”), Montreal’s baroque chamber orchestra, with Maurice Steger from Germany, the most celebrated recorder virtuoso in the world.
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will continue to be the sites for The Early Music Series this season. Old friends will return in new combinations or with new guest artists such as Piffaro—America’s premier Renaissance wind band appearing with the King’s Noyse—the Renaissance string band from Boston with soprano Ellen Hargis. Rebel appears with the much sought-after German tenor Rufus Müller in an inspired program entitled Out of the Eclipse: Music of Transformation and Revelation. A Kansas City favorite, the Tallis Scholars performs a Christmas program inspired by the “Magnificat” as set by several composers spanning several centuries, from the Renaissance to our own.
Our enthusiasm to bring you great music is unabated, as is our enthusiasm to increase your knowledge and pleasure of great music. We will continue to bring you educational programs that illuminate and inspire. Whether it is a panel discussion of experts, a lecture, an exhibit, or the Forte Film Series, we aim to expand your horizons.
In yet another collaboration, this year we embark on a new educational program for third through sixth grade children and their parents when we co-present with The Folly Theater and Theatre for Young America the play, Young Mozart. This hour-long play will give your children and grandchildren music and memories of Mozart they will long cherish.
Altogether, this season will have the power to lift you from the ordinary to the transcendent, to remind us of our humanness and divineness. By stopping to take time to listen to and wonder at the creative will of genius and the achievement of the human spirit, this is a season to transform your very being as we Transcend Tradition.
This fall, the opening of the spectacular Kauffman Center will mark the beginning of a new era for the performing arts in Kansas City. Not since the reopening of the Folly Theater 30 years ago has our community had such an important space to adorn and house great music. To help celebrate the opening of the Center, the Friends of Chamber Music, together with The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, proudly co-present a highly experimental, multi-media event: The Darwin Project. This collaborative event brings together an impressive array of over 35 organizations and individuals for a joyous celebration of the life of Darwin whose scientific theory would change the world forever.
We are pleased that in addition to The Darwin Project, The Friends will present two other performances at The Kauffman Center: Chanticleer in their program entitled Love Story and a single concert by Russian pianist Konstantin Lifschitz performing Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” as part of our Bach Festival. That means that when you subscribe to either the Friends of Chamber Music’s chamber music or piano series, you will have the unusual benefit of hearing concerts in both The Kauffman Center and The Folly Theater. We invite you to come and admire the beauty and attributes of these two great halls.
As you can see, our upcoming season is exceptional for its collaborative energy. In yet another such initiative, we bring together The Kauffman Center, The Folly Theater, The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra with The Friends of Chamber Music to present The Bach Festival. Another first for the Friends, this festival is comprised of six concerts dedicated to the works of Bach and mostly centered on the work of a single artist: pianist Konstantin Lifschitz.
The Far East and Europe have had the privilege of hearing this artist perform in four consecutive nights the Well-Tempered Klavier, Books I and II; the “Goldberg Variations”; and “The Art of the Fugue.” Not only has this never been done before in the United States, Lifschitz is the only pianist alive who has the courage and endurance to play these immensely challenging programs in the space of a few days. And he does so exquisitely.
In addition to four solo keyboard concerts, The Bach Festival will include two additional concerts for a total of six. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the KC Chamber Orchestra, under its founder/director Bruce Sorrell, will present Konstantin Lifschitz playing two of Bach’s most beloved concertos. Kicking off the Bach Festival, the KCCO will present the complete Brandenburg Concertos (see pages 18 and 19). Come and hear for yourself why Bach’s works represent the “greatest and purist moment in music of all time.” (Pablo Casals)
But our collaborations don’t stop there. We proudly continue our partnership with the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance—Music Alliance—which is comprised of three splendid performances. In addition to Konstantin Lifschitz performing the “Art of the Fugue” for his final concert of the Bach Festival, we will present the Morgenstern Trio from Germany, and end the series with the young American violinist Jennifer Koh who will appear with the rising young star from Israel, pianist Shai Wosner.
Since 1985, The Folly Theater has been the primary home for the Friends. No other space in Kansas City offers the same warmth of sound and intimacy that our presentations require. As Kansas City’s finest recital hall, countless artists from all over the world have extolled its virtues and the hall’s unusual capacity to connect artists with audiences.
The Folly will continue to be the Friends’ home serving as host to several of the International Chamber Music Series concerts, Bach Festival events, and Master Pianists Series recitals. Together with Konstantin Lifschitz, Richard Goode and Jonathan Biss will guarantee piano lovers an exhilarating season of intensely moving music-making. The Folly will also house other artists of the International Chamber Music Series including two extraordinary string quartets—the Tokyo and the Artemis. Bernard Labadie conducts Les Violons du Roy (“Violins of the King”), Montreal’s baroque chamber orchestra, with Maurice Steger from Germany, the most celebrated recorder virtuoso in the world.
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will continue to be the sites for The Early Music Series this season. Old friends will return in new combinations or with new guest artists such as Piffaro—America’s premier Renaissance wind band appearing with the King’s Noyse—the Renaissance string band from Boston with soprano Ellen Hargis. Rebel appears with the much sought-after German tenor Rufus Müller in an inspired program entitled Out of the Eclipse: Music of Transformation and Revelation. A Kansas City favorite, the Tallis Scholars performs a Christmas program inspired by the “Magnificat” as set by several composers spanning several centuries, from the Renaissance to our own.
Our enthusiasm to bring you great music is unabated, as is our enthusiasm to increase your knowledge and pleasure of great music. We will continue to bring you educational programs that illuminate and inspire. Whether it is a panel discussion of experts, a lecture, an exhibit, or the Forte Film Series, we aim to expand your horizons.
In yet another collaboration, this year we embark on a new educational program for third through sixth grade children and their parents when we co-present with The Folly Theater and Theatre for Young America the play, Young Mozart. This hour-long play will give your children and grandchildren music and memories of Mozart they will long cherish.
Altogether, this season will have the power to lift you from the ordinary to the transcendent, to remind us of our humanness and divineness. By stopping to take time to listen to and wonder at the creative will of genius and the achievement of the human spirit, this is a season to transform your very being as we Transcend Tradition.
