Presented by The Kansas City Symphony
Led by its new music director, Matthias Pintscher, the Kansas City Symphony will debut two innovative performance formats during its not to be missed new 2024-2025 season.
These dynamic new formats, Symphonic Piazza and On Stage, are in line with the symphony’s ongoing refresh that aims to make live music entertaining and inclusive for everyone—not just symphony aficionados.
“Our intention is to open doors to the meaningful world of symphonic music,” says Pintscher. “We’ve curated new programs to surprise and delight our existing and new audiences. We also launched our new brand and the ‘There’s No Wrong Way to Symphony’ campaign to attract audiences from all walks of life. They can come together in a place where they belong, revel in awe-inspiring performances, and see themselves in the music with the Symphony and in our beloved Kansas City community.”
In addition to classic symphony experiences audiences cherish, here are some of the new immersive live experiences Kansas Citians and their guests will enjoy this season:
Symphonic Piazza: Beginning this November, audiences can escape, mingle, and be entertained during seven must-see Friday night concert series and social experiences made for a new kind of live music performance. Picture a town square in Italy where people gather and get to know one another, surrounded by music made to amaze and soothe the soul. Symphonic Piazza performances look to replicate that. These shorter-format performances are followed by the musicians inviting the audience to gather after the performance for cocktails, community, and conversation. The seven-event Symphonic Piazza series begins on November 1 with Mozart’s Requiem.
On Stage: Imagine sitting on stage in Helzberg Hall up close and personal with Kansas City Symphony musicians, guest artists, and your host for the evening: Music Director Matthias Pintscher. Experience On Stage, a new immersive live music concert like no other in Kansas City.
This one-of-a-kind chamber music experience is exclusively designed for 100 audience members. As you arrive at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, you’ll be greeted by an elevated VIP Experience made just for you, complete with specialty beverages and flavorful, savory bites. Then, you’ll be escorted to your seats on stage in Helzberg Hall, where your senses will come alive in an immersive performance packed with artistry and adrenaline. Just feet away from your host, Matthias Pintscher and world-renowned guest artists and your very own Kansas City Symphony musicians. After the performance, you’ll join the musicians in a private suite for cocktails, sweet treats, and connected conversations.
On Stage debuts on September 12 with a performance by renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein and the symphony orchestra.
These experiences, designed by Pintscher and Danny Beckley, president and CEO, are another way to connect audiences with the magic and transformative power of live orchestral music. The Kansas City Symphony—long a top destination for live-music fans in the Midwest—will be a viable option for date nights, family outings, and friend-group hangs.
After Weilerstein’s On Stage performance, the classical season begins September 13-15 under Pintscher’s direction. The orchestra will perform Stravinsky’s The Firebird and Weilerstein will play Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. The remaining programs, which run through June, will include classical staples such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin.
Driven by audience demand, the Kansas City Symphony has doubled its Film and Live Orchestra experiences this season. From the suspense of Jurassic Park and Jaws to holiday films Home Alone and Frozen to true classics like Casablanca, Psycho, and the silent movie Nosferatu, there’s nothing like experiencing movies with your Kansas City Symphony performing the music.
Oh, and did we mention Harry Potter? Get ready to relive the film that started it all. Secure your trip down memory lane with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in concert.
This 2024-2025 season, starting September 13, marks the beginning of Matthias Pintscher’s appointment as music director of the Kansas City Symphony. It is his first music directorship of a North American orchestra following years of profound relationships with many of the world’s most distinguished orchestras, including the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras, the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, the New World Symphony, and many others.
The Kansas City Symphony just returned after marking a significant milestone in the orchestra’s 42-year history. Led by Pintscher, the Symphony toured Europe, performing in Amsterdam’s storied Concertgebouw, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, and one of the most prominent music festivals in Europe: Musikfest Berlin at the Berlin Philharmonie.
For a complete schedule and to purchase tickets, head to the Kansas City Symphony’s website. The Symphony’s Instagram and Facebook pages share news, details, and behind-the scenes updates.