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

The Friends of Chamber Music presents

Lionheart, Tydings Trew: Feasts of Christmas in Medieval England
Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
12th and Broadway, Downtown Kansas City, MO

As we noted last week in the Classical Column, Lionheart is one of America's leading ensembles in medieval and Renaissance a cappella music and has appeared at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center, the National Cathedral, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and in various festivals throughout Europe, to say nothing of its celebrated appearances at The Cloisters in New York City and at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church.  

The Friends of Chamber Music is bringing the group back for a holiday concert featuring medieval songs for the season.  This is bound to be once of the more unusual, and thus one of the most refreshing, concerts of the season.  Celebrate the holidays amidst the imposing grandeur of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception!

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

Musica Sacra presents
Chorus and Orchestra Christmas Concert
Friday, December 5, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier Church
52nd and Troost, Kansas City, MO

Timothy McDonald's Musica Sacra group always performs great choral pieces at a high level of performance.  This year the group's holiday concert features the Christmas Oratorio of Camille Saint-Saëns, one of the kings of the French romantics.  St. Saëns' music always pleases, and this piece is no exception.  The program will also feature traditional Christmas carols performed by the choral and orchestral forces under Timothy McDonald's baton.  

For tickets call 816-235-6222 or online at www.rockhurst.edu/services/musicasacra
(Unfortunately this contains outdated information)

Fine Arts Chorale presents
"Deck the Hall" concert
Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Grace & Holy Trinity Catherdal
14th and Broadway, Downtown Kansas City, MO

Tuesday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Southminster Presbyterian Church,
6306 Roe Ave., Prairie Village, KS

Fine Arts Chorale and Music Director/Conductor, Terri Teal, and the thirty-plus singers will present two holiday concerts that emphasize the age-old tradition of using greenery to decorate during Christmas and the Winter Solstice, as well as feature a group of pieces using the rose as a simile for Mary or Jesus.

In addition, a delightful set of carols referring to the animals in the Christmas story will be highlighted. Selected repertoire includes: Deck the Hall, The Holly and the Ivy, O Christmas Tree,  A Spotless Rose and O magnum mysterium.

Purchase tickets at the door or call 816-235-6222.

Heartland Men's Chorus presents
Bless My Family
Friday, December 5 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 7 at 4 p.m.
The Folly Theater
12th and Central Streets
Downtown Kansas City, MO

The Heartland Men's Chorus holiday concert will give you the sounds of a large chorus in the acoustically friendly Folly Theater downtown.  The event weaves together the stories of parents, partners, children and friends with the music of the holiday season. The chorus' promotional material says, "prepare for laughter, tears and maybe even goose bumps as we sing of true 'family values' this December."

The Heartland Men's Chorus offers YOU one free ticket with the purchase of one ticket for the Friday, December 5th concert by mentioning fiona's list . Call 816-931-3338 to order tickets.

For tickets call 816-931-3338 or online at www.hmcck.org

Octarium
Holidays With Octarium - Greatest Hits
Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
1245 New Hampshire
Lawrence, KS

Sunday, December 7 at 2:30 p.m.
St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church
75th and Main Streets
Kansas City, MO

Don't take my word for it - no less an expert than Paul Horsley has recently written in The Independent that this group has a "meticulous blend and fresh, youthful sonority" that "gets better every time I hear it." Arnold Epley wrote on this website that "make no mistake; this is a Kansas City ensemble of national stature, joining the justly illustrious Kansas City Chorale in the message that this city's choral moment seems to be arriving."

The Octarium Christmas concert is likely to be one of the musical highlights of not just the season, but the year.  The group's ethereal, finely spun vocal lines must be heard to be believed.  You just have to experience singing of this quality with your own ears.  Treat yourself to this concert and you will come away refreshed and uplifted.  This writer guaranties it!

Purchase tickets at the door or pre-order at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/45044. www.octarium.org

Conservatory of Music and Dance - University of Missouri at Kansas City
60th Annual Choral Holiday Concert: A Season of Giving
Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Visitation Catholic Church
5141 Main Street, Kansas City, MO

The Conservatory of Music's annual holiday choral concert feature performances by a number of the Conservatory music ensembles, including the Conservatory Concert Choir, Bella Voce, the Conservatory Singers, Canticum Novum, the UMKC Trombone Ensemble, the Hope Lutheran Bell Choir, and faculty member John Ditto, organist.

The program includes a host of holiday favorites including Gillette's Divinium mysterium (Of The Father's Love Begotten), Johann Sebastian Bach's Break forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light, Kodály's Angels and Shepherds, and music of Bruckner, Gabrieli, Britten, and many others.  Oh, and the Messiah, of course.  

Free admission, but a donation of non-perishable food items and monetary contributions to Harvesters Community Food Network will be appreciated.
www.conservatory.umkc.edu

Lied Center of Kansas at University of Kansas presents
84th Annual Holiday Vespers
Sunday, December 7, 2008
2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
1600 Stewart Drive
Lawrence, Kansas

This is the first of several holiday events taking place with University of Kansas musical forces.  Another is on Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. on the Edwards Campus of the University of Kansas, where the KU Concert Holiday Choir will sing a program of seasonal musical favorites directed by Paul Tucker.  

That same evening, December 9, the Symphonic Band and University Band of the University of Kansas will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center in Lawrence.

Tickets are available for free by calling 913-897-8400, but donations are recommended, of new toys for Safe Home's holiday store that serves victims of domestic violence and their children.. For more information www.lied.ku.edu

Mid-America Nazarene University
The Messiah by G.F. Handel
Sunday, December 7 at 3 p.m.
Bell Cultural Center
Mid-America Nazarene University
2030 E. College Way, Olathe, Kansas

If you have missed one of the other Messiah performances around town this season, here is another chance.  Georg Frideric Handel's music is always spectacular!

For tickets call 913-971-3636 or online at  www.mnu.edu/events/bellcenter

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.