Loss of classical music critic

It is incomprehensible that The Star would eliminate the position of classical music and dance critic at the very moment Kansas City is experiencing an explosion in the performing arts unprecedented in its history.

While I do not always agree with Paul Horsley, I respect and admire his passion for the performing arts and his tireless coverage of multiple arts events each weekend. The vitality of our performing arts is evidence of both a growing audience and the arts’ increasing importance to the future of our city.

The elimination of skilled, timely and consistent coverage of classical music and dance will only serve to make The Kansas City Star, and its home city, less attractive to the very people we most need to attract and keep here.

Frank Byrne
Executive director, Kansas City Symphony
Overland Park

I am appalled at the elimination of the classical music and dance reporter position.

While I did not always agree with Mr. Horsley’s reviews, he always provided a measured analysis of performing arts offerings and consistently wrote features highlighting the local scene and providing information so that potential audiences could be connected to performances and organizations in the area.

This year Gov. Matt Blunt increased Missouri’s arts budget by millions. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is slated to open in 2010. The Kansas City performing arts scene is flourishing with increased funding and support providing new opportunities for local arts organizations.

Meanwhile, The Star has removed the reporter position that brings quality performing arts together with loyal and appreciative audiences.

It shows an extreme lack of foresight to eliminate this position just as Kansas City is putting together the pieces to categorically increase its performing arts quality and prestige.

Krista Lang Blackwood
Artistic director and founder, Octarium
Kansas City

I am shocked and saddened at the news that Paul Horsley had been laid off and that his position has been eliminated.

His reviews and articles have been of consistent high quality, and the Kansas City community will be diminished in many ways by the loss of his work.

I realize that the newspaper business has been in financial distress throughout the country, but this particular item of news has affected me personally more than anything I have heard.

Carol Hamilton
Prairie Village

Editor’s note: The Star plans to run freelance classical music and dance reviews.

Comments

[Engineer]

solomon
I thought you were a big fan of imperialism. Aren't you the one who has been telling us how great and good and beneficent the Ottoman Turks were?

[katman]

Kansas City has taken another step backward with the Star's dismissal fo Horsley. Tonight like almost every night I was listening to KXTR. You know the saying "I was watching a fight and a hockey match broke out." Well, I was lisdtening to the T-Bones (ha-ha) and KXTR classical music interrupted.

[freethinker]

As someone who has been active in the city's arts (classical music) scene for nearly 6 years, I have come to respect Paul Horsley. The letter writers eluded to the fact that we don't always agree with what Horsley wrote. While that is true, Paul has a wealth of knowledge of classical music repertoire and stylistic tendancies that are largely unrivaled in newspapers across the country. His commitment to local and regional ensembles what perhaps his best trait.

When I pick up the paper, I look to Horsley's column, the opinion page, and the sports page in that order. I'm sad that my first reason for reading the Star has gone away.

[katman]

Marry the publisher? The publisher is a guy and that would be a same sex marriage --not yet legal in Missosuri. I admit I'd like to have same (some)sex all the time.

Segue into that subject, saw where two guys from Lawrence used their stimulus checks to travel to California to get married. What really frosts me is that I haven't yet received mine. Think there's some kind of reverse discrimination.

And, I feel creepy when you guys starting agreeing with me. I think I'm probably wrong or off base 70% of the time. But, there are persons on this blog that are probably wrong 100% of the time.

[Chris40]

Paul Horsley's problem was that he didn't draw nasty little political cartoons that were anti-conservative. If he had, he would still have a job.

That, or marry the publisher of the newspaper. Do that and you can mail in a column every week and still keep your job.

[T. Hanson]

I agree Katman,
I have said countless times that it is a shame that KC does not have a dedicated FM broadcast Classical station. The big wigs can yell that they can not justify the expense of a 100% classical station, but due that reasoning I have signed up for XM radio and have not listened to the Entercom force (about 10 stations last time I counted) for about 2 years.

Shame really, and I hope having the new Performing Arts Center will help people enjoy classical music more and maybe a demand will be up to bring a radio station back to FM.

[katman]

Kansas City has become the sahara of classical music. My issue is with KXTR. First the station went from FM to AM affecting its reception. Now, when I relax on the patio in the evening, the classical music becomes a T-Bones broadcast. I call that commercialism and pandering.