June 16, 2016 – December 5, 2015
Jun 2016
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Helzberg Hall • Kansas City
SEASON FINALE: BEETHOVEN’S NINTH
June 16-19, 2016
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Michael Stern, conductor
Kansas City Symphony Chorus
Charles Bruffy, chorus dierctor
Celena Shafer, soprano
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Robert Watson, tenor
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
BEETHOVEN Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 2
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9
The grand finale of the season features three majestic works for chorus and orchestra. Beethoven maintained a lifelong admiration for the great German poet, Goethe. Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage is a setting of two Goethe poems that journey from hushed mystery to triumph. Shostakovich wrote his youthful Symphony No. 2, “To October,” to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. Beethoven’s epic final Symphony, culminating in the composer’s revolutionary and inspirational setting of Schiller’s “Ode to Joy,” caps the season in glorious, heavenly sounds.
May 2016
Emilia in Otello
The Metropolitan Opera • New York City
The Met season opens with Verdi’s masterful Otello, inspired by Shakespeare’s play and matching it in tragic intensity. Director Bartlett Sher probes the Moor’s dramatic downfall with an outstanding cast: tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko plays the doomed Otello; new soprano star Sonya Yoncheva sings Desdemona, Otello’s innocent wife and victim; and baritone Željko Lucic plays the evil Iago, who masterminds Otello’s demise. Dynamic maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
May 2016
Emilia in Otello
The Metropolitan Opera • New York City
The Met season opens with Verdi’s masterful Otello, inspired by Shakespeare’s play and matching it in tragic intensity. Director Bartlett Sher probes the Moor’s dramatic downfall with an outstanding cast: tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko plays the doomed Otello; new soprano star Sonya Yoncheva sings Desdemona, Otello’s innocent wife and victim; and baritone Željko Lucic plays the evil Iago, who masterminds Otello’s demise. Dynamic maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
Apr 2016
Emilia in Otello
The Metropolitan Opera • New York City
The Met season opens with Verdi’s masterful Otello, inspired by Shakespeare’s play and matching it in tragic intensity. Director Bartlett Sher probes the Moor’s dramatic downfall with an outstanding cast: tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko plays the doomed Otello; new soprano star Sonya Yoncheva sings Desdemona, Otello’s innocent wife and victim; and baritone Željko Lucic plays the evil Iago, who masterminds Otello’s demise. Dynamic maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
Apr 2016
The Romantic Viola with Paul Neubauer
Alice Tully Hall • New York City
Schumann Märchenerzählungen (Fairy Tales) for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, Op. 132 (1853)
Klughardt Schilflieder, Five Fantasy Pieces for Oboe, Viola, and Piano, Op. 28 (1872)
Jacob Suite for Eight Violas (1976)
Tower New Work for Viola (CMS Commission, World Premiere) (2015)
Brahms Zwei Gesänge for Voice, Viola, and Piano, Op. 91 (1884)
Turina Escena andaluza for Viola, String Quartet, and Piano, Op. 7 (1912)
Kreisler Syncopation for Viola, Cello, and Piano (1924)
Kreisler Marche Miniature Viennoise for Viola, Cello, and Piano (1924)
Various Selected works for Viola and Gypsy Ensemble
Apr 2016
Emilia in Otello
The Metropolitan Opera • New York City
The Met season opens with Verdi’s masterful Otello, inspired by Shakespeare’s play and matching it in tragic intensity. Director Bartlett Sher probes the Moor’s dramatic downfall with an outstanding cast: tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko plays the doomed Otello; new soprano star Sonya Yoncheva sings Desdemona, Otello’s innocent wife and victim; and baritone Željko Lucic plays the evil Iago, who masterminds Otello’s demise. Dynamic maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
Apr 2016
Emilia in Otello
The Metropolitan Opera • New York City
The Met season opens with Verdi’s masterful Otello, inspired by Shakespeare’s play and matching it in tragic intensity. Director Bartlett Sher probes the Moor’s dramatic downfall with an outstanding cast: tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko plays the doomed Otello; new soprano star Sonya Yoncheva sings Desdemona, Otello’s innocent wife and victim; and baritone Željko Lucic plays the evil Iago, who masterminds Otello’s demise. Dynamic maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
Apr 2016
Elgar's The Angel's Farewell with Voices of Ascension
Church of the Ascension • New York City
Leave New York behind and be transported to the lush and harmonious world of the British Isles. Vaughan Williams' splendid Serenade to Music sets the tone for this sumptuous program of music and texts from across the pond. Other highlights include Parry's stirring Jerusalem ("And did those feet in ancient times") and his grand anthem Blest Pair of Sirens. Works by Holst will feature the shimmering Ave Maria for women's chorus in 8 parts, and the inspiring hymn "I vow to thee my country" from The Planets. Excerpts from oratorios by Elgar and others will evoke the British Empire at its peak. And to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare, we will be performing the three winning pieces of the Sorel Medallion, each work composed on texts by the great Bard of Avon.
Mar 2016
Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni
Arizona Opera • Tucson
Don Giovanni: the man, the myth and the legend. He can't resist women and women can't resist him. With so many conquests, his servant Leporello can barely keep track of them all! Giovanni's attention comes in the form of harassment and lies, and rages unchecked until the father of the beautiful Donna Anna arrives to put him in his place. So beware, this lecherous lothario is "climbing in your windows and snatching your people up!"
Feb 2016
Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni
Arizona Opera • Phoenix
Don Giovanni: the man, the myth and the legend. He can't resist women and women can't resist him. With so many conquests, his servant Leporello can barely keep track of them all! Giovanni's attention comes in the form of harassment and lies, and rages unchecked until the father of the beautiful Donna Anna arrives to put him in his place. So beware, this lecherous lothario is "climbing in your windows and snatching your people up!"
Feb 2016
Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni
Arizona Opera • Phoenix
Don Giovanni: the man, the myth and the legend. He can't resist women and women can't resist him. With so many conquests, his servant Leporello can barely keep track of them all! Giovanni's attention comes in the form of harassment and lies, and rages unchecked until the father of the beautiful Donna Anna arrives to put him in his place. So beware, this lecherous lothario is "climbing in your windows and snatching your people up!"