Kansas City Symphony returns to Kauffman Center, but these concerts will be different

We may have survived 2020, but arts lovers are still spooked.

Although vaccines and effective therapeutic treatments are becoming more widely available, Kansas City’s arts organizations are taking things slow and easy to ensure the safety of their audiences and performers.

There are signs that things are returning to somewhat normal, however.

Beginning this month, the Kansas City Symphony will start easing its fans back into Helzberg Hall. Subscribers will get a chance to attend concerts with social distancing both among the pared-down symphony members on stage as well as in the audience. Only 25% of Helzberg Hall’s capacity will be used.

But subscribers who are unable to score tickets can watch selected concerts streamed later on the symphony’s new platform, MySymphonySeat.org.

Carlsen Center Presents is continuing to offer virtual events, and Kansas City’s smaller arts groups, who responded so creatively to the pandemic last year, are continuing to find work-arounds.

Beau Bledsoe’s Ensemble Iberica is offering a “Passport Series,” allowing the stir crazy to travel the world from the comfort of home. Tickets to the monthly events include food and wine, which you pick up the day before the concert at Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen. Then you can enjoy your feast while learning about the wines from a master sommelier and listening to the world-class musicianship of Ensemble Iberica.

Here’s a sampling of musical offerings to help us get through this winter of our discontent.

Kansas City Symphony

After concerts are streamed, they will then be available online for 30 days for subscribers only at MySymphonySeat.org. For more information about subscribing, 816-471-0400 or kcsymphony.org.

5 p.m. Jan. 17: Simon: Elegy; Barber: Serenade for Strings, Op. 1; Tchaikovksy: Serenade for String Orchestra.

5 p.m. Jan. 24: Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Trumpets in C; Puccini: I Crisantemi; Verdi: String Symphony in E Minor.

5 p.m. Jan. 31: Mahler: Adagietto; Vivaldi: Piccolo Concerto (performed on marimba); Kay: Six Dances for String Orchestra.

7:30 p.m. Feb. 6: Walker: Lyric for Strings; Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony for Strings, Op. 110a; Beethoven: Grosse Fuge.

5 p.m. Feb. 21: Foote: Air and Gavotte; Bach: Air on the G String; Dvorák: Serenade for Strings.

5 p.m Feb. 28: Mozart: Divertimento in D Major for Strings, K. 136; Abels: Delights and Dances; Elgar: Introduction and Allegro.

5 p.m March 14: Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Oboes in D Minor; Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence.

5 p.m March 21: Hailstork: Baroque Suite; Handel: Organ Concerto (with Jan Kraybill, organ); Diamond: Rounds for String Orchestra.

5 p.m March 28: Still: Mother and Child; Schoenberg: Verklaerte Nacht.

7:30 p.m April 3: Stravinsky: “Dumbarton Oaks”; Debussy: “Danses Sacrée et Profane”; Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.

5 p.m April 11: Copland: Suite from “Appalachian Spring”; Tate: “Shakamaxon” for String Orchestra.

Carlsen Center Presents

Available through Jan. 31: Chaeyoung Park. Virtual Piano Recital. Free.

7 p.m. Jan. 22: The Choir of Man: Live from London! (virtual event) $25.

For tickets and more information, call 913-469-4445 or jccc.edu/carlsen-center-presents.

Ensemble Iberica — Passport Series

Jan. 9: Portugal

Feb. 5: Argentina

March 6: Spain

April 2: Mexico

All concerts, hosted on YouTube, begin at 7 p.m. $95 includes the concert, four small food plates and four wine or spirit samples from Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen. ensembleiberica.org.

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