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

Lied Center
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernandez
Thursday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Lied Center at University of Kansas
1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, Kansas
For tickets call 785-864-2787 or online at www.lied.ku.edu

The local ballet companies are at rest this weekend, or preparing for upcoming performances, but the Lied Center offers a touring dance program by this interesting sounding group. The brochure says that "simultaneously honoring and recounting the histories of Mexico's ancient civilizations and indigenous cultures, Ballet Folklórico de México is the preeminent folkloric music and dance company in the genre. "Through vivacious choreography, vibrant costumes and mesmerizing rhythms," the information states, "this internationally renowned folkloric company celebrates the diversity of Mexico's rich cultural legacy." Ballet Folklórico de México was founded over half a century ago by Amalia Hernández, and over the years, the company has preserved the traditional folk dances of Mexico.



UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Faculty Recital: Jane Solose
Sunday, January 31 at 2:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall
4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO
Free admission
For information call 816-235-2799 or online at www.conservatory.umkc.edu

Jane Solose is the chairwoman of the piano faculty at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her performing career has taken her to Korea, Japan, Austria, Hungary, Russia, Canada, and across the United States. She is a past winner of the CBC Canada National Radio Competition and received special commendation at the International Vienna Modern Masters Performers Recording Award Competition. Two of her solo compact disc recordings have been released by Eroica Classical Recordings. Last spring she participated in the World Piano Conference in Serbia. This past summer she performed and presented master classes at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. In this recital, Solose will perform two pieces by Rachmaninoff, the Prokofiev Sonata for Piano No. 6 in A Major, piano rag music by Stravinsky, and Gershwin's crowd-pleasing Rhapsody in Blue.



The Friends of Chamber Music
Tafelmusik - The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres
Sunday, January 31 at 4 p.m.
Folly Theater
12^th and Central, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-561-9999 or online at www.chambermusic.org

This concert offers an interesting visual as well as aural experience. Tafelmusik, one of the finest ancient music ensembles to be heard anywhere, is offering a concert of the Baroque repertoire, performed from memory, believe it or not, because the works will be performed in the dark.  Why? Because accompanying the music will be a series of projected images from the NASA Hubble space telescope, in keeping with the Galileo theme and "Music of the Spheres." The concert was inspired by the 400^th anniversary of Galileo's development of the astronomical telescope. According to publicity for the concert, "this event uses images, words, and music (some by Galileo's own father) to explore the world in which 17th- and 18th-century astronomers worked, speaking profoundly and eloquently of the wonders of the cosmos and the achievements of the human spirit." This presentation is not to be offered anywhere else until next year, so this is a unique experience for Kansas City audiences to be the first to enjoy the concert. Tickets are free to those 18 and younger.



Summerfest
Summerfest in Winter!
Sunday, January 31 at 5:00 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 West 62^nd Street, Mission, KS
Free admission
For more information visit www.summerfestkc.org

What's this? Summerfest, the summertime classical music ensemble that performs such wonderful concerts in June and July, performing in the winter?  So it is. This free concert will feature the works of Mozart, Kokai, Corelli, Kander (that's native Kansas City composer Susan Kander) and more. The performers will include Summerfest favorites Shannon Finney, flute; Mary Grant, violin; Jane Carl, clarinet; Jessica Nance, viola; Alex East, cello; and Tabitha Reist, harp. Although there is no admission fee and tickets are not required, Summerfest is asking for donations at the door to fund Summerfest's year-round outreach programs.



Kansas City Wind Symphony
featuring David Potter, Saxophone
Sunday, January 31 at 7 p.m.
Village Presbyterian Church
6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS
Free admission
For more information visit www.kcwindsymphony.org


The Kansas City Wind Symphony under the direction of Phillip Posey and assistant conductor Pat Setser will present a concert Sunday evening featuring guest saxophonist David Potter, who will play Potter a special transcription of the Concertino da Camera by the Jacques Ibert. The concert also will feature Henri René's Passion in Paint, a musical impression of three famous paintings: "At the Moulin Rouge" by Toulouse Lautrec, "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali and "L'Absinthe" by Edgar Degas. Also included is Maurice Ravel's Pavane pour une Infante Défunte, which will feature Andrew Johnson as the horn soloist. Two works by American composers will wrap up the program: The Overture to The School for Scandal by Samuel Barber and Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli.

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.