Harriman-Jewell Series brings back treasured performers, adds acts that ‘grow impact’

Nothing brightens winter like KC making it to the Super Bowl — or the Harriman-Jewell Series announcing its new season.

The esteemed arts presenter has scored several touchdowns in its 2020-2021 season, including three of the biggest opera stars of our day, two of the world’s finest orchestras and a lineup of soloists that includes return visits from violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Khatia Buniatishvili.

Next year promises to be a championship season for the Harriman-Jewell Series.

“We are trying to do something special,” said Clark Morris, executive and artistic director of the Series. “We are intentionally trying to expand our reach into the community and expand our offerings, not just to grow our series but to grow our impact.

“We want to have a broader slate of offerings in order to be able to reach more people in the community with this great art.”

One of the ways the Harriman-Jewell Series is broadening its offerings is by presenting its first-ever performance of Indian song and dance, the Dhamaal Dancers and Musicians of India.

“We’ve never done an Indian dance or music project,” Morris said. “We’ve brought different folk and cultural groups from around the world but never anything from India. This is such an important culture and something that deserves to be seen.”

Morris adds he hopes the program will draw from community members with roots and ties to India.

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Dance is always integral to the Harriman-Jewell Series, and next season the series has many other intriguing dance offerings. Series staple Parsons Dance will return in October, and next January it’s Dorrance Dance, a tap dance ensemble that treats this uniquely American dance genre with the respect it deserves.

Also in January 2021, a long-time series favorite returns. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will make one of its treasured visits to Kansas City.

“Richard Harriman brought Alvin Ailey on his first American tour in 1968 and then presented the company nine times,” Morris said. “We’re pleased to partner with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey to present the main company.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to get back to our roots of presenting this amazing company, one of the most successful dance companies in America, and to link arms with such a great Kansas City organization to celebrate this art.”

For vocal music lovers, it’s a breathtaking season. Soprano Renée Fleming, tenor Juan Diego Flórez and Kansas City’s favorite mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato, all make return appearances.

And for something a bit off the beaten path, there’s countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo.

“I saw Anthony Costanzo in Philip Glass’ ‘Akhnaten’ at the Met when I was in New York in November, and he is just spectacular,” Morris said. “We’ve very rarely presented countertenors in recital, so we’re excited to bring such a dynamic voice in a rare genre of vocal music.”

For those who had life-changing experiences at the Chicago Symphony’s two previous Helzberg Hall performances, get ready for number three. This time, Riccardo Muti, the great lion of the podium, will conduct the venerable CSO in orchestral showpieces by Britten, Elgar and Tchaikovsky.

“We’re fortunate that Riccardo Muti loves Kansas City and loves the Kauffman Center and Helzberg Hall,” Morris said. “We’ve had a good relationship, and we’re very lucky to get this combination of artists back on our stage in Kansas City.”

Finally, there are those wonderful Harriman-Jewell Series Discovery concerts. Although they don’t feature marquee names, Discovery concerts showcase incredibly talented musicians on the cusp of classical stardom. And they’re free. Next year, there will be three Discovery concerts: cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing; pianist Martin James Bartlett and violinist Johan Dalene.

For tickets and more information, 816-415-5025 or www.hjseries.org. Dates to remember:

▪ Sept. 1: Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor (Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th.)

▪ Sept. 26: Brandon Goldberg Trio (Folly Theater)

▪ Oct. 9: Parsons Dance (Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts)

▪ Oct. 17: Renée Fleming, soprano (Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts)

▪ Oct. 23: The Dhamaal Dancers and Musicians of India (Folly Theater)

▪ Oct. 24: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti with special guest Alice Coote, mezzo-soprano perform Four Sea Interludes from Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes” and Tchaivovsky’s Symphony No. 5. The British lyric mezzo-soprano, Alice Coote, will join the orchestra to sing Elgar’s Sea Pictures.

▪ Nov. 6: Juan Diego Flórez, tenor (Folly Theater)

▪ Nov. 20: Stuttgart Bach Akademie Bach’s “St. Matthew’s Passion” (Church of the Resurrection, Leawood)

▪ Dec. 7: Canadian Brass Christmas Concert “Christmastime is Here” (Helzberg Hall)

▪ Dec. 13: Ifetayo Ali-Landing, cello (Free Discovery Concert. Folly Theater)

▪ Jan. 16, 2021: Dorrance Dance ( Muriel Kauffman Theatre)

▪ Jan. 23, 2021: Martin James Bartlett, piano (Free Discovery Concert. Folly Theater)

▪ Jan. 29, 2021: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Muriel Kauffman Theatre)

▪ Feb. 3, 2021: Joshua Bell, violin and Alessio Bax, piano (Folly Theater)

▪ Feb. 13, 2021: Khatia Buniatishvili, piano (Folly Theater)

▪ Feb. 18, 2021: The King’s Singers (Folly Theater)

▪ Feb. 23, 2021: Joyce DiDonato’s “SongPlay” (Helzberg Hall)

▪ March 12, 2021: Benedetti Elschenbroich Grynyuk Trio (Folly Theater)

▪ March 14, 2021: Orquestra Sinfónica Nacional de México conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto with special guest pianist Gabriela Montero (Helzberg Hall)

▪ April 18, 2021: Scottish Ensemble with Edgar Meyer, bass (Folly Theater)

▪ May 14, 2021: Johan Dalene, violin (Free Discovery Concert. Folly Theater)

▪ May 22, 2021: Edgar Meyer, bass (1900 Building, 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Mission Woods)

You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.