Classical Series - 2025 Season

This is the inaugural season of our new music director, Matthias Pintscher. I am so excited for you to get to know Matthias. He is one of the finest musicians of our time, and he is an absolutely delightful human being. He is passionate, creative, and incredibly inspiring, and with his artistic leadership we all have the opportunity for this music to have even more meaning in our lives.
Since last May, Matthias has been working hard with me and our team to craft the season you will see. The guest artists include many of the world's leading musicians. We will play some of the greatest music of the repertoire, and continue our commitment to new music as well.
We are delighted to be introducing some new concert formats which I think you will love. Each of these seeks to bring music alive in ways that connect us with each other and with ourselves. I invite you to peruse the most special season and would be happy for your to join us in music.
Danny Beckley, President and CEO
Since last May, Matthias has been working hard with me and our team to craft the season you will see. The guest artists include many of the world's leading musicians. We will play some of the greatest music of the repertoire, and continue our commitment to new music as well.
We are delighted to be introducing some new concert formats which I think you will love. Each of these seeks to bring music alive in ways that connect us with each other and with ourselves. I invite you to peruse the most special season and would be happy for your to join us in music.
Danny Beckley, President and CEO

ON STAGE WITH JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET
Thursday, April 3, 2025 8:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Imagine sitting on the Helzberg Hall stage with a world-renowned guest artist and our musicians as they perform chamber music. Matthias Pintscher invites you to On Stage, a special experience where the music, musicians and audience come together. It’s the ultimate immersive concert created just for you, filled with artistry and adrenaline.
Thursday, April 3, 2025 8:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Imagine sitting on the Helzberg Hall stage with a world-renowned guest artist and our musicians as they perform chamber music. Matthias Pintscher invites you to On Stage, a special experience where the music, musicians and audience come together. It’s the ultimate immersive concert created just for you, filled with artistry and adrenaline.

CLASSICAL SERIES CONCERT #10
Friday, April 4, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, April 5, 2025 8:00PM; Sunday, April 6, 2025 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Music Director Matthias Pintscher is joined by visionary pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in this concert that traverses the world. The program begins with a world premiere; a new piece commissioned by the Kansas City Symphony from Catalan composer Joan Magrané Figuera. Figuera’s music is a deep exploration of the nature of sound, searching for new shades of tone colors in a microcosmic interior world.
Friday, April 4, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, April 5, 2025 8:00PM; Sunday, April 6, 2025 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Music Director Matthias Pintscher is joined by visionary pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in this concert that traverses the world. The program begins with a world premiere; a new piece commissioned by the Kansas City Symphony from Catalan composer Joan Magrané Figuera. Figuera’s music is a deep exploration of the nature of sound, searching for new shades of tone colors in a microcosmic interior world.

CLASSICAL SERIES CONCERT #11
Friday, April 11, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, April 12, 2025 8:00PM; Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Jane Glover, guest conductor
Ying Li, piano
Noted Classical specialist Jane Glover takes the podium for a delightful program of music by Mozart, Haydn and Britten. Quintessentially English composer Benjamin Britten wrote this Suite on English Folk Tunes as a nostalgic homage to the popular songs of his youth, viewing the bygone era through a decidedly modern lens. delightful way.
Friday, April 11, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, April 12, 2025 8:00PM; Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Jane Glover, guest conductor
Ying Li, piano
Noted Classical specialist Jane Glover takes the podium for a delightful program of music by Mozart, Haydn and Britten. Quintessentially English composer Benjamin Britten wrote this Suite on English Folk Tunes as a nostalgic homage to the popular songs of his youth, viewing the bygone era through a decidedly modern lens. delightful way.

CLASSICAL SERIES CONCERT #12
Friday, May 9, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, May 10, 2025 8:00PM; Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Sophia Burgos, soprano
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Duda Paiva Company, dance and puppets
GABRIEL FAURÉ Masques et bergamasques
FRANCIS POULENC Gloria
BÉLA BARTÓK The Miraculous Mandarin
Matthias Pintscher leads your Kansas City Symphony in Gabriel Fauré’s Masques et bergamasques, a thoroughly enchanting suite drawn from incidental music for a divertissement staged in Monte Carlo. Fauré’s music readily captures the essence of the masked balls and rustic dances alluded to in the title, offering refined accompaniment to the glamourous mystique of the event.
Friday, May 9, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, May 10, 2025 8:00PM; Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Sophia Burgos, soprano
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Duda Paiva Company, dance and puppets
GABRIEL FAURÉ Masques et bergamasques
FRANCIS POULENC Gloria
BÉLA BARTÓK The Miraculous Mandarin
Matthias Pintscher leads your Kansas City Symphony in Gabriel Fauré’s Masques et bergamasques, a thoroughly enchanting suite drawn from incidental music for a divertissement staged in Monte Carlo. Fauré’s music readily captures the essence of the masked balls and rustic dances alluded to in the title, offering refined accompaniment to the glamourous mystique of the event.

CLASSICAL SERIES CONCERT #13
Friday, May 30, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, May 31, 2025, 8:00 PM; Sunday, June 1, 2025, 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Jasmin White, contralto
Kansas City Symphony Women’s Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, Christy Elsner, creative director and founder
A towering work of genius, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 will take you on a musical journey encompassing a world of emotion. Led by Music Director Matthias Pintscher, the Symphony’s virtuosity will be on full display. Contralto Jasmin White brings their incandescent sound and exquisite musicianship to this masterwork, joined by the Symphony Chorus women and a children’s choir.
Friday, May 30, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, May 31, 2025, 8:00 PM; Sunday, June 1, 2025, 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Jasmin White, contralto
Kansas City Symphony Women’s Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, Christy Elsner, creative director and founder
A towering work of genius, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 will take you on a musical journey encompassing a world of emotion. Led by Music Director Matthias Pintscher, the Symphony’s virtuosity will be on full display. Contralto Jasmin White brings their incandescent sound and exquisite musicianship to this masterwork, joined by the Symphony Chorus women and a children’s choir.

CLASSICAL SERIES CONCERT #14
Friday, June 6, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, June 7, 2025, 8:00 PM; Sunday, June 8, 2025, 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Johannes Debus, guest conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin
A spectacular year of music comes to a close with this epic concert. Guest conductor Johannes Debus returns to Kansas City, joined by violin superstar Augustin Hadelich for Beethoven’s singular Violin Concerto. Bask in its serene beauty, lyrical power and amazing athleticism. You’ll agree — it’s one of the top violin concertos of all time.
Friday, June 6, 2025 8:00 PM; Saturday, June 7, 2025, 8:00 PM; Sunday, June 8, 2025, 2:00 PM
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center
Johannes Debus, guest conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin
A spectacular year of music comes to a close with this epic concert. Guest conductor Johannes Debus returns to Kansas City, joined by violin superstar Augustin Hadelich for Beethoven’s singular Violin Concerto. Bask in its serene beauty, lyrical power and amazing athleticism. You’ll agree — it’s one of the top violin concertos of all time.