RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 25, 2009, City Classics
Music and Dance through December 1
Kansas City classical music and dance organizations realized a long time ago that the Thanksgiving weekend was given over more to turkey and football than to cultural pursuits. As a result, there is only one classical event on the calendar for this weekend, although it's a doozy...the Kansas City Symphony and Chorus and the Community of Christ Independence Messiah Choir in an extravaganza performance of Handel's Messiah. Along with the Plaza Lights, it will be the perfect way to start off your holiday season! Next week begins a plethora of holiday programs, so stay tuned...
Kansas City Symphony
Handel's Messiah
Saturday, November 28 at 8 p.m.
Community of Christ Auditorium
1001 West Walnut, Independence, MO
For tickets call 816-471-0400, or online at www.kcsymphony.org.
It was late in Georg Frideric Handel's compositional career, after his famous Italian opera company in London had gone bankrupt, that the composer turned to an entirely different kind of composition, the oratorio. His immediate goal was to recover from financial travails and put himself and his players back on the road to fiscal health. The ultimate result, however, was the creation (or at least, the vast enhancement) of a form of composition known as the oratorio, utilizing both orchestral musicians and a choir, fronted by a quartet of soloists, to tell a musical story, often a Biblical one, in a concert hall rather than in an opera house.
Handel wrote a number of great oratorios, most of them on Biblical themes, among them Solomon, Samson and Saul. The greatest and most popular, however, has always been the Messiah. He wrote it under such desperate circumstances that his tear drops blot the pages of the original manuscript. His brilliant use of choral and orchestral effects, coupled with some of the most gorgeous solo melodies ever written, have kept it a solid favorite in the repertory for over 350 years.
Was the composition done for purely financial reasons? Perhaps not. Handel, deeply devout, felt a special attachment to this work, which tells the story of Christ from his birth to his resurrection. Upon hearing an early performance, an English Lord remarked to Handel how well he had entertained the audience. "My Lord," Handel replied, "I should be sorry if I only entertained the audience. I wish to make them better."
Whether performed by outstanding professional musicians or just sung by a neighborhood group of enthusiastic choristers, the Messiah always thrills. The Symphony's annual Messiah performance, done in the remarkably beautiful space of the Community of Christ Auditorium under the direction of Symphony associate conductor Steven Jarvi with Charles Bruffy as the Symphony's new chorus master, along with the Community of Christ Independence Messiah Choir, should certainly be the largest and among the finest of dozens of presentations of this work that you will be able to enjoy this holiday season.
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.
All material contained in KCMetropolis.org is the property of or licensed for use by KCMetropolis.org. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KCMetropolis.org or the original copyright holders.