Carnival of the Animals and Other Delights

The Friends crowns its landmark Fiftieth Anniversary Season with a joyous celebration, assembling a 12-member all-star ensemble in Kansas City. At the heart of the program is Saint-Saëns’s enchanting Carnival of the Animals—a witty, whimsical, and dazzling showcase. Complementing it is the premiere of Michael Stephen Brown’s A Magical Carnival: A Zoological Fantasy, an ingenious and refreshing companion piece. We open this “carnival procession” with three gems for cello and piano by Gabriel Fauré, performed by our Artistic Directors, followed by his graceful and nostalgic Pavane, Op. 50 — a fitting farewell to our Golden Jubilee. This festive finale not only caps a remarkable season—it joyfully reaffirms the vibrant future of chamber music for the next fifty years and beyond.