KC summer lineup in classic music: KC Symphony finale, Summerfest, Ensemble Iberica

Summer is a great time to kick back, relax and enjoy some classical music. Over the years, Kansas City has increased its summertime options for classical music lovers. The Kansas City Symphony has extended its season into June, and newer festivals are joining stalwarts Summerfest and Summer Music at the Cathedrals.

Kansas City Symphony season finale

The Symphony concludes its season with one of the greatest classical works ever written: Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Michael Stern will conduct the orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony Chorus in a work that Beethoven himself never heard. After conducting the first performance in Vienna in 1824, the completely deaf composer had to be turned around to see the audience give him five standing ovations.

Soprano Celena Shafer, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, tenor Robert Watson and bass-baritone Dashon Burton will sing the solo parts.

June 16-19 at Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400, kcsymphony.org.

Ensemble Iberica: Latin passion

Ensemble Iberica will make summer even more sultry with two programs of passionate Latin music.

On June 6, “Outliers” will feature music by three composer/musicians who broadened the world’s musical horizons: Portuguese guitarist Carlos Paredes; Guinga, the monosyllabic Brazilian guitarist; and Astor Piazzolla, master of the bandoneon and tango.

“Lusophone,” Aug. 15 and 16, will be a global tour of the Portuguese musical influence. (Lusophones are people who speak Portuguese). Beau Bledsoe, founder and artistic director of Ensemble Iberica, will have returned from his June tour of fado clubs in Portugal, so one would expect some extra fire in the performance. Fado singer Nathalie Pires and Brazilian vocalist and percussionist Nanny Assis will add to the concert’s authenticity.

“Outliers”: June 6 at the Barney Building, 2000 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Mission Woods. “Lusophone”: Aug. 15 and 16 at Musical Theater Heritage, 2450 Grand, Suite 301. ensembleiberica.org

Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival

The Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival was founded in 1974 to celebrate the “King of Ragtime.” It attracts aficionados from around the world to hear this uniquely American music. The classically trained Joplin took ragtime very seriously, often noting in the sheet music: “Do not play this piece fast.”

The festival is four days of fabulous performances by some of the world’s greatest ragtime players. And it’s a wonderful opportunity to explore the charming town of Sedalia, home of the Maple Leaf Club, which gave Joplin’s most famous rag its name.

June 1-4. Sedalia. scottjoplin.org

Kansas City Dance Festival

This will be the fourth year for the festival, and this year’s weeklong celebration of dance will include master classes and performances by dancers from the Kansas City, Finnish, Milwaukee and Pennsylvania ballets, and from other outstanding companies.

June 18-25 at various venues. kcdancefestival.com

Summerfest chamber music

This chamber music festival with performances every Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon in July is marking its 26th season. This year’s theme is American Roots, and lots of American music will be featured. But there will be other chamber music classics as well. Summerfest is especially good at ferreting out utterly charming pieces of music.

July 9-31. Saturday evening performances at White Recital Hall, 4949 Cherry St.; Sunday afternoon performances at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1307 Holmes. summerfestkc.org

Kansas City Fringe Fest fun

The fringe festival is an opportunity for classical music to fly its freak flag. You never know what to expect — an outer space opera or a zonked-out xylophone recital?

July 21-31 at various venues. Schedule to be announced. kcfringe.org

Summer Music at the Cathedrals

Summer Music at the Cathedrals makes August bearable with Sunday afternoon concerts in the cool confines of Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. John Schaefer and Mario Pearson, the music directors of the Episcopalian and Catholic cathedrals, always program exquisite music, with Immaculate Conception hosting the annual grand French Organ Festival.

Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 416 W. 12th. Schedule to be announced. kccathedral.org or kcgolddome.org

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "KC summer lineup in classic music: KC Symphony finale, Summerfest, Ensemble Iberica."