Category Archives: Essays

A reception experiment: Lucia last night

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

I remember from Psych 100 that one of the ways scientists learned about the brain was from what they called natural experiments.  In the war, sometimes a man would suffer a catastrophic wound to part of his head, allowing scientists … Continue reading →

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Pageants of Power

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

Whenever a new pair of presenters come out onto the stage at the Academy Awards, the pit band begins to play something suitable. Nobody does that when I walk into a room. I was thinking about this after reading some … Continue reading →

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Canadian Pride

Posted on February 24, 2013 by

It’s the day before the Academy Awards, which means Canadians can indulge in our favourite sport.  No I don’t mean hockey, which is more of an obsession than something you could dismiss as mere fun.  It’s too much of a … Continue reading →

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Psychological portraits: Tito’s Rome

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

La Clemenza di Tito is not known the way the major operas of Mozart’s maturity are known and loved.  When I say Don Giovanni or Marriage of Figaro or Magic Flute there are tunes that instantly pop into my head … Continue reading →

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Sellars interviewed

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

I watched a wonderful interview tonight at the Toronto Public Library, presented in co-operation between the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto Star. Richard Ouzounian of The Star interrogated opera director Peter Sellars, in anticipation of tomorrow’s opening night of … Continue reading →

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From Troyens to Tristan

Posted on January 16, 2013 by

December seemed to be a month obsessively occupied by Hector Berlioz, particularly Les Troyens in versions onstage at the Met, the High Definition transmission, DVDs, plus the score at home.  It’s January, and Berlioz is still echoing through the corridors … Continue reading →

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Pollyanna’s picks for 2012

Posted on December 23, 2012 by

This is a look back at 2012 through the rose-coloured glasses of someone who prefers to avoid negativity. Most impressive singer: Jane Archibald.  I’d already been persuaded by her Zerbinetta in the recent COC Ariadne, then I heard her Haydn CD … Continue reading →

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Good night, 4-D Regie

Posted on December 13, 2012 by

This is an extension of the conversation earlier this week.  Yes I get that the title is unintelligible, but even if I presented it fully –Good night, Four dimensional Regietheater—it’s pretty cryptic without some explanations. Let me simply start with … Continue reading →

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Keszei’s religious art

Posted on November 29, 2012 by

I know Attila Keszei as an artist working in several media, on a few recurring subjects. Sustainability has been a key preoccupation for him, both in his professional life at the University of Toronto, and in his art.  Images exploring … Continue reading →

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Wham bam thank you SNAM

Posted on November 14, 2012 by

How important is Saturday Night at the Movies?  TV Ontario –the Ontario equivalent to PBS—has many sorts of educational programming.  SNAM is the furthest thing from a genuine curriculum, and precisely for that reason, likely one of our farthest reaching … Continue reading →

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