Kansas City Symphony: Matthias Pintscher & Conrad Tao - Brahms' Second Symphony

Kansas City Symphony: Matthias Pintscher & Conrad Tao - Brahms' Second Symphony at Helzberg Hall - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Fire meets pastoral calm when Matthias Pintscher brings his own composition to Kansas City alongside one of Brahms' most beloved works. The conductor leads the Kansas City Symphony through three distinctive pieces, including the local premiere of his own NUR—a work whose title draws from the Hebrew and Arabic word for fire. Pintscher directs what he composed, so Kansas City gets its first hearing of NUR with its composer at the helm.

Pianist Conrad Tao returns to the orchestra after joining their 2024 European tour, and now plays piano in NUR. That shared tour history makes Tao's return a particular draw alongside the Kansas City first performance. The program opens with Debussy's Rondes de printemps before moving into Pintscher's premiere and closing with Brahms.

That Second Symphony offers its own rewards—music that shifts from tranquil to rambunctious, mysterious to melancholy, idyllic to triumphant. Brahms moves through an entire emotional landscape, from calm to triumph, giving the concert a big finish after NUR's Kansas City debut. The contrast between Pintscher's contemporary voice and Brahms' Romantic sweep gives the night range without forcing some artificial theme.

Helzberg Hall hosts the performance on April 3rd. A composer conducting his own work, Tao at the piano and Brahms' shifting moods make this a varied Kansas City, Missouri, program. Hear Pintscher's local premiere alongside Tao and Brahms; get tickets for April 3.