Music has formed who I am, and it daily alters my perceptions of the world and the people in it. I want nothing more than to have others experience what I have: the tragic thrill of Bach's "St. Matthew Passion," the haunting emptiness and alienation of Berg's "Wozzeck," the sheer acid-rock rush of Mahler's Third. Or for that matter, the stabbing pain of Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Music's power, after all, is not reserved for the "longhairs" among us.
Submitted by Grammaford from Kearney, Mo
Q: When will the 'bachathon' be held this year? In past years it was at Grace & Holy Trinith on Broadway in the spring. I would like the dates, so I can invite guests.
Answered 03/26/08 16:34:13 by Paul Horsley
A: The 2008 Bachathon is on Sunday, May 4, at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. Watch kcago.com/bachathon.html for more information as it becomes available.Submitted by Cindy from Overland Park, KS
Q: Did you (or anyone else on the Star staff) review the Step Crew performance last weekend at the Johnson County Community College? If so, could you send me an e-mail loink to the review-I can't find it in the paper. Thanks.
Answered 03/26/08 16:32:20 by Paul Horsley
A: No we didn't make it out for Step Crew. Maybe next time around. How was it?Submitted by Kathyb from
Q: We attended the FABULOUS concert that we heard you also did. Nikolai Lugansky! We heard him in 2005 in Strasbourg, France, and knew that if we ever had the chance again, NOT TO MISS HIM!! I don't know when you might have a critique, but we leave town today, Wednesday, March 26, and I don't want to miss what you have to say. Could you please let me know when it will be in the Star? Or send me the link? Thanx, and I hope you, too, LOVED his performance! Kathyb
Answered 03/26/08 16:31:55 by Paul Horsley
A: My review will appear online tonight (Wednesday) and in Thursday's paper. Just go to kansascity.com, click on Entertainment and scroll down to my section in the bottom right-hand column.Submitted by Roger from Olathe, Ks
Q: a couple of weeks ago the star did a review on a 10 cd set of classic country music artists, believe the price was 119.95 looking to find the title and where i can purchase.
Answered 12/19/07 21:47:43 by Paul Horsley
A: I'm stumped on this one. Do you remember any more details?Submitted by Anonymous from Not in Prague
Q: Nope, not Ida. I knew you when you were in Prague. Can't e-mail you because I don't think I have your most current e-mail address. Oh, and thanks for the correction on my spelling of Lasik surgery. However, I think you'll find that Lasix is a blood thinner. Some people do refer to the eye procedure as Lasix surgery, but it is actually Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis.(wink-wink, nudge-nudge) I just wondered about the surgery, because your photo on the webpage allows us to see your fabulous green eyes.
Answered 12/19/07 21:37:39 by Paul Horsley
A: Dobry den! Hmm, a medical student from Kajetanka? You've got me guessing. Marketa? Deirdre? Ali? "Bredley"? Zuzana? Mohammed? Tomas? Svetlana? Jose? Teddy? Gee, I'm getting nostalgic. Write me an e-mail, the address is phorsley@kcstar.comSubmitted by Anonymous from Not in Kansas
Q: Pavel, so... have you had lasik surgery?
Answered 12/19/07 04:48:47 by Paul Horsley
A: No, Lasix is said to be too dangerous at my level of myopia. Is that you, Ida? E-mail me some time!Submitted by Anonymous from PV, KS
Q: Did you do a review of the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra's performance at the Carlson Center?
Answered 11/28/07 17:36:16 by Paul Horsley
A: Sadly, I had to miss the wonderful St. Petersburg Symphony, one of my favorite orchestras. There were four concerts around town that night, and the local debut of the Zehetmair String Quartet on the Friends of Chamber Music's series was more newsworthy. Attending it also allowed me to get to the second half of the Chiara Quartet's "sets" at The Brick afterward, an nteresting new concept in classical programming.Submitted by Mary from Leawood ,Ks
Q: So if you are going to start recommending music that we can work out to, can you recommend listening lists for other activities? Hmmmmmmm? :)
Answered 11/05/07 15:19:07 by Paul Horsley
A: Normally I'm not a proponent of using classical music as "background" to other activities. I was asked by an editor to prepare that list in connection with the KC marathon, only to learn (just before presstime) that the use of iPods is prohibited during the race itself. Ah, editors. If I like a piece of music enough to put it on, it tends to draw my attention completely.Submitted by Sam from K.C. , Mo.
Q: Mr. Horsley; I recently discovered a three year old article from the Star which I have saved concerning Roland Valliere and his "concert companion". What has become of this invention? Sam Harrington
Answered 11/05/07 15:14:45 by Paul Horsley
A: Because of prohibitive costs, the Concert Companion is in the process of being reconceived. I'll keep you posted.Submitted by Anonymous from Olathe KS
Q: I have searched the Star's website in vain for a review of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra's season opener September 18, 2007. Did I overlook it or -- gasp -- did the Star not send a reviewer?
Answered 11/05/07 15:13:31 by Paul Horsley
A: Because the Star's freelance budget has been reduced, sometimes -- gasp -- we miss things.Submitted by Heidi Bergman from Lee's Summit, MO
Q: Last Friday evening (November 2nd) I attended violinist Gil Shaham's recital at the Folly Theatre with pianist Akira Eguchi. I didn't find a review in the Star and was wondering if I somehow missed it?
Answered 11/05/07 15:09:50 by Paul Horsley
A: No, you didn't miss it. I was attending the world premiere of Paul Taylor's "De Suenos que se Repiten" that night. Because the Star's budget for freelance reviewers has been drastically reduced, during busy weekends valuable things get missed.Submitted by Anonymous from Vadnais Heights, MN
Q: Hi--We met a week or so ago at the opera in Iowa and hope to read the piece you wrote. We had a grand time as is usual but are curious what you thought overall. Pleased to meet and visit and discuss the arts and the world of the news. Be well, Judy and Paul Gaston (MN)
Answered 07/09/07 20:40:09 by Paul Horsley
A: It was a delight to meet both of you, and I hope to run into you at next year's Des Moines Metro Opera as well. I'll be curious to know how your reactions compared to mine. Our Sunday story is currently at kansascity.com (click "Entertainment"), and my reviews are on our blog at showtime.typepad.com (click "Classical Music"). All the best, PH.Submitted by Lina from St. Joseph, Mo.
Q: We're new to the area and have really enjoyed the music events in KC. We've also enjoyed reading your reviews, whether we agree with them or not. My question/comment relates to two recent Metropolitan Opera live broadcasts: (1) Although we're not from the area, we were deeply touched by Joyce di Donato's "Hi, Kansas City!" during the live telecast. Did we miss your review or was that the one live Met opera broadcast that you actually did not review? We're a little puzzled since Di Donato is from this area. (2) The final scene with Fleming and Hvorostovsky in "Eugene Onegin" was indeed one of the most memorable we've ever seen. We're thinking of seeing it again on April 15th for its encore performance. LC
Answered 05/10/07 19:35:13 by Paul Horsley
A: A brief review of the DiDonato "Barber" ran in the Sunday A&E section on April 22.Submitted by DP from Kanas City
Q: There goes tradition down the tubes. What is going on now with the troubled KXTR? I have listened to KXTR since its inception and it has slowly been pushed to insignificance and the ultra right of the kilocycle band. If KCPT would eliminate a few worthless in-house programs and purchase from Entercom KXTR it would be a better deal for KXTR and classical music enthusiasts.Look at the change. http://www.kxtr.com/
Answered 05/10/07 19:32:47 by Paul Horsley
A: Commercial radio is no longer worth our concern, particularly in Kansas City, where it is controlled by marketing forces that require it do well among 18-to-34-year-olds. My advice to classical fans is that they stop fretting about radio so much and invest in one of the newer technologies, or satellite radio. There's a whole new world out there, and it is more attuned to your tastes than radio ever will be.Submitted by sally ingram from raytown, mo
Q: I am curious to know why our very own tenor Nathan Granner, one of the American Tenors, receives so little publicity here in Kansas City & yet many glowing reviews from all over the country on his concerts & recently released CD "Departure". I am a regular listener to KXTR & have only heard one song played once althought I have made requests.
Answered 05/10/07 19:30:02 by Paul Horsley
A: Nathan Granner actually gets a lot of press here.