British vocal group 'the king's singers' return to kansas city, Presented By Harriman-Jewell Series

WHAT: THE KING'S SINGERS, a cappella sextet

PRESENTED BY: HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES

WHEN: Friday, February 22, at 8 p.m.

WHERE: FOLLY THEATER, downtown Kansas City, Mo. (12th and Central Sts.)

TICKETS: $25 or $55 | call 816-415-5025 or visit www.harriman-jewell.org

PROGRAM: madrigals from the time of Queen Elizabeth I; plus comical works by Flanders & Swann
and Noel Coward
view complete program list

HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES: | visit www.imgartists.com

EDUCATIONAL EVENT: The King's Singers will also lead a free vocal master class for preselected students from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, February 22, at the Central Library's Helzberg Room (10th and Baltimore Sts., downtown Kansas City, Mo.). The public is invited to observe the class at no charge. Please contact Heather Forbis at 816-415-5025 for more information.

The King's Singers sextet performs a concert at 8 p.m. Friday, February 22, at the Folly Theater (12th and Central Sts.) in downtown Kansas City, Mo. This performance will mark the seventh Harriman-Jewell Series presentation of the beloved ensemble.

This year, the British vocal ensemble celebrates 40 years of music making. Regularly performing well over 100 concerts every season, complemented by recording and teaching, The King’s Singers delight audiences around the world with their incomparable musicianship, charm and wit.

With their last album release, Landscape and Time described as possessing "singing of rare distinction," and "stunningly high musical standards," they have maintained their place at the apex of a cappella singing, and are counted amongst the world’s elite classical performers.

Their repertoire is all encompassing; from medieval music to masterpieces of the Renaissance,
from lieder to folk, pop and jazz or with a contemporary commission from a leading composer, they are constantly expanding their repertoire. Since their debut concert in 1968 they have commissioned works from many well-known composers including Krystof Penderecki, Luciano Berio, Peter Maxwell Davies, Richard Rodney Bennett, and Gyorgy Ligeti. With a dozen such commissions since 2000, the latest works will come from Michael Nyman as well as Americans Jay Greenberg and Eric Whitacre.

The list of venues at which they have appeared is equally diverse, including cathedrals and palaces as well as in many of the world’s major concert halls. They have joined forces with many famous orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and
Chicago Symphony Orchestra  and with chamber ensembles Concordia, Sarband, Christina Pluhar and L’Arpeggiata.

They also team up with distinguished soloists such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Emanuel Ax, George Shearing, Evelyn Glennie, and even Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. These collaborations have often resulted in recordings to add to the group’s discography of over 80 albums on the Signum Classics, BMG and EMI labels.

Renowned for their commitment to blend, balance and intonation in their own performances, they are keen to pass on their knowledge through educational work. They conduct master-classes in many countries, and have for 10 years been Prince Consort Ensemble-in-Residence at the Royal
College of Music, London.

But above all, it is their simple enjoyment of what they do that has captured the imagination of the public all over the world. As the London Times puts it, they are "still unmatched for their musicality and sheer ability to entertain."

Tickets to the King's Singers concert are $25 or $55; please call the Harriman-Jewell Series at 816-415-5025 (or toll free at 888-528-5521). Tickets and event information are also available at www.harriman-jewell.org. This concert is sponsored by the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee.

Now in its 43rd season, the nationally recognized Harriman-Jewell Series brings acclaimed performers from the worlds of music, dance, and theatre to Kansas City’s downtown venues. In addition to the performances, educational events offer free master classes and lectures to allow area community members and students to view artists in an informal setting.

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