By Paul Horsley

The dazzling legacy of the Harriman-Jewell Series is defined not just by its milestones, such as tenor Luciano Pavarotti’s world recital debut in 1973 or the inaugural performance by legendary Balanchine dancers Patricia McBride and Edward Villella. It is defined by the loving care with which the late Richard Harriman, Series co-founder Dean Dunham and current executive and artistic director Clark Morris have curated one of the nation’s most prestigious series – and by the cultural and spiritual enrichment that their 850 performances have brought to tens of thousands of Kansas Citians. For their spectacular 50th season they have gathered artists who have helped make the Series great and added innovative touches that reflect the Series’ constant focus on renewal and discovery of new artists.

“We have been dreaming of and preparing for this occasion for some time now, insisting that it represent the high mark of what we can bring to Kansas City,” says Clark, who became executive director in 2003 and artistic director upon Richard’s death in 2010. He emphasizes Richard’s legacy, while admitting there might be subtle differences in his own style. “In my mind, Richard was the greatest presenter I’ve ever encountered, or that I could ever aspire to be. … I think he would be very proud of this season.” One of the signature events of the year is the 50th Season Gala Concert featuring Prairie Village native Joyce DiDonato and star tenor Juan Diego Flórez in a duo recital.

Another local favorite coming to town is Parsons Dance, founded by KC native David Parsons. And in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I with that famous shot in Sarajevo, the Kronos Quartet presents “Beyond Zero: 1914-1918,” a multimedia collaboration with the National World War I Museum featuring music by Serbian composer Aleksandra Vrebalov.

The National Acrobats of China and the Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir reflect an ongoing desire to bring world music and dance to town. Other international offerings include the Russian National Ballet Theatre (Giselle), the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with pianist Jeremy Denk and The King’s Singers. The shows with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and dancer Savion Glover both feature young, up-and-coming collaborating artists. American favorites have not been neglected, with recitals by Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott, violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Emanuel Ax. Metropolitan Opera tenor Joseph Calleja continues the Series’ remarkable legacy of presenting great singers.

Orchestra fans will welcome the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas (with violinist Gil Shaham), while dance aficionados will swoon at Handel’s Acis and Galatea with the Mark Morris Dance Group, featuring live performers and costumes by Isaac Mizrahi. The Discovery Concerts, which have proven a huge local hit, include performances by the Salomé Chamber Orchestra and pianists Yunquing Zhou, Zhang Zuo and Simon Trpčeski – who played the first Discovery Concert in 2004.

Perhaps not surprisingly, a Series this prestigious has had followers who go all the way back to its beginnings. “This anniversary has allowed us to focus on and talk to people who have been around for a significant part of our history,” Clark says. “That’s something that’s great to have, that continuity, and the ability to communicate with those people over the years. … Just in the last month I’ve talked to a number of patrons who were there at the first concert and have been to the majority of the concerts since 1965. And there’s this real expression of joy rather than fatigue: They seem just as energized by the next concert as they were making the original trip out to Liberty for the first concert.”

As for the next 50 years? “If we could maintain our current success of 50 years during the next 50 years, that would be a sufficient accomplishment,” Clark says. “But I’m not satisfied with that. I want us to continually push and grow and to have greater impact. … There are always those who have not been exposed to the performing arts, or who need to be exposed to world cultures. Continuing to … push those boundaries and help people gain an appreciation for how art and culture can give their lives fuller meaning is what drives us every day. … These kinds of experiences don’t exist in our current society unless you work very hard to make them happen. They’re not a natural outpouring of the marketplace, but require what may seem like an inordinate amount of effort to make them happen. But I think our effort is rewarded by the experience that people have in the concert hall.”

Call 816-415-5025 or see hjseries.org for tickets and for a full listing of the programs and artists for the 2014-2015 season. Subscriptions are on sale now, single tickets from August 4th.