Matthias Pintscher has not wasted any time shaking things up in Kansas City. In just his first two seasons as music director, he has retooled the Kansas City Symphony’s sound and profile enough to land the orchestra a second European invitation this August. The tour will take the ensemble to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and Musikfest Berlin at the Berliner Philharmonie, with a send-off preview set for Helzberg Hall on Aug. 21.
In late June, the symphony announced that it had extended Pintscher’s music director contract through the 2033-34 season, a five-year renewal that the organization said will carry him into its 50th anniversary season, according to Kansas City Symphony. The press release credits Pintscher with broadening the orchestra’s national profile and deepening its commitment to contemporary work.
Inside the hall, musicians and staff say that shift is obvious. Violinist Susan Goldenberg told KC Studio that “he creates a beautiful feeling in the orchestra of positive energy, mutual trust and respect.” Executive director Danny Beckley told the same outlet that Pintscher “embodies love” for the musicians and the city, adding that his leadership has helped attract high-caliber guest artists to Kansas City.
European Return And High-Profile Programs
The European run opens Aug. 27 at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, continues Aug. 29 at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and wraps Aug. 30 at the Berliner Philharmonie as part of Musikfest Berlin, per listings at the Concertgebouw, the Elbphilharmonie and the Berliner Philharmoniker. The programs feature Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto - with Gil Shaham joining in Amsterdam and Hamburg - and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3. The Amsterdam listing notes the orchestra’s debut there in 2024 and says presenters invited the group back after that appearance.
New Music, New Voices At Home
Pintscher has also been busy on the home front, leaning into contemporary sounds alongside the classics. He brought together seven composers for a collaborative piece titled Genesis, according to KC Studio. In June, guest pianist Yefim Bronfman premiered a piano prelude co-credited to Olga Neuwirth and Pintscher, per Matthias Pintscher. That blend of modern premieres and audience-friendly masterworks is a big part of why international presenters have renewed their invitations. According to the League of American Orchestras (Dec. 8, 2022), American orchestras commissioned "19 new works by 19 women, premiered beginning in 2020 and stretching to 2024 and beyond," illustrating a recent push toward commissioning new works. The League of American Orchestras also notes that American orchestras "have offered opportunities for scores of American composers to gain national and international reputations," suggesting that commissioning and new-music initiatives can raise an orchestra's profile (americanorchestras.org).
Helzberg Hall Send-Off And Tickets
Before the orchestra boards a plane, Kansas City audiences get first crack at the tour program. The symphony will present a send-off preview at 7 p.m. Aug. 21 in Helzberg Hall, with ticketing and program details available from the organization. Local patrons can find seats and event information via the symphony’s send-off listing on the ticket page at Kansas City Symphony. If demand for the August concerts matches recent seasons, Pintscher’s extended tenure may mean more commissions and touring projects in Kansas City’s future.
