How Bassoon Is Now?

It’s not exactly Dan Brown territory, but a handful of scholars dispute the authenticity of the Rossini bassoon concerto on today’s Kansas City Civic Orchestra program. However, there’s no arguing the rare pleasure of a whole piece showcasing the big daddy of the woodwind section. For the orchestra’s Winter Warmup, director Christopher Kelts has enlisted Eric Stomberg, associate professor of bassoon at the University of Kansas and holder of a doctorate in music arts, to handle the double-reed action. Yeah, that’s right: Dr. Bassoon is in the house. All that mystery, plus Berlioz’s “Rákóczi March” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, for free today at the Folly Theater (300 West 12th Street, 816-474-4444). See kccivic.org for details about the 2 p.m. concert.

Sun., Feb. 22, 2 p.m., 2009