I reviewed the Lyric Opera of Kansas City's production of Verdi's "Il Trovatore" for The Kansas City Star. Sitting in front of me was celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich, I think. I'm pretty sure, anyway.
INTERVIEW: Organist Cameron Carpenter
I interviewed organist Cameron Carpenter for The Kansas City Star. He is performing on the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant organ in Helzberg Hall tonight. Do not ask him about Liberace. And this is just fun:
REVIEW: Richard Elliot, organist
I reviewed Richard Elliot, principal organist for the Mormon Tabernacle, on the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant organ in Helzberg Hall for The Kansas City Star. He played the first concert of the Kansas City Symphony's organ recital series on Wednesday evening. I was especially taken with the arrangment of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," scored... Continue Reading →
Meredith Marsha Helga Jayhawk: a study in contrasting audience experiences
We attended a christening on Thursday night. From the stage of the Lied Center in Lawrence KS, the members of Brooklyn-based Sō Percussion took suggestions to name the cactus that they were using for the first time, a Kansas resident. According to them, cacti have female names. Therefore, Meredith Marsha Helga Jayhawk debuted on John... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Chamber Music Soicety of Lincoln Center, with Jeremy Denk
I reviewed the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center with pianist Jeremy Denk for The Kansas City Star. Not only is Jeremy Denk an amazing virtuoso, performing with also fantastic musicians, with a program of excellent selections, but - to the specific interest of this blogger - he has read À la recherche du temps... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: KCBallet, “Carmina Burana”
I reviewed the Kansas City Ballet's season opening performance, "Carmina Burana," for The Kansas City Star. Orff is probably best known by the punch-you-in-the-face drama of that opening "O Fortuna," but his committment to "total art" was more thorough than even Wagner's. Orff's theory of music and movement, his committment to children's music education, along with the... Continue Reading →
Fado Novato
“He, who came from nothing | In his nothingness was all.” - Joaquim Fredrico de Brito ****************** Beau Bledsoe has added another new project to his one-man global take-over, one that I was pleased to help with in a very small way. Together with singer Shay Estes and guitarist Jordan Shipley, he has created out... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Ailey II at the Folly Theater
I reviewed Ailey II at the Folly Theater for The Kansas City Star. Once again, the Ailey organization put on an exciting, theatrical, challenging performance.
Kawsmouth, Issue 6: Artifacts
In Issue 6, Preservation, Jennifer Wetzel, co-founder and photo editor of Kawsmouth, has assembled a visual collection of treasured objects. Each comes with a description from the contributor. Our items belonged to our grandparents.
REVIEW: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra
I reviewed The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's performance in Helzberg Hall for The Kansas City Star. They opened their 10th season with a tribute to Count Basie, with vocalist Kevin Mahogany. At the end of the concert, as we were all standing up to leave and I was putting my notepad back in my purse,... Continue Reading →
Proust Eats a Sandwich 