Monthly Archives: August 2013

Adam Klein – Winterreise

Posted on August 26, 2013 by barczablog

On his Vimeo webpage Eric Solstein says  “This amazing performance by Adam Klein & Craig Ketter of the Schubert song cycle will be the soundtrack to a film I’m just finishing. It’s too powerful not to be available on its … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dark Blue Jasmine

Posted on August 25, 2013 by barczablog

I went into a theatre expecting brilliance from Cate Blanchett, and was blind-sided by Woody Allen’s politics.  But maybe that was to be expected. I keep finding politics everywhere I turn.  Maybe it’s me (and the political focus of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

10 questions for Alaina Viau

Posted on August 23, 2013 by barczablog

Alaina Viau works at the Glenn Gould School at the RCM as the Opera and Royal Conservatory Orchestra Manager.  What makes her tick? Real performances where there is natural movement and real emotions on stage, with singing that will make … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Loose Tea Music Theatre: La Tragédie de Carmen

Posted on August 23, 2013 by barczablog

“Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment. LOOSE TEA Music Theatre proudly announces its inaugural opera, La Tragédie de Carmen. Presented at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, this opera is a powerful, raw and visceral adaptation of Bizet’s … Continue reading →

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Christian Jeffries: Songs From The Couch

Posted on August 22, 2013 by barczablog

I first encountered Christian Jeffries in the Soup Can Theatre cabaret show Love is a Poverty You Can Sell 2 at the Fringe in July, the most memorable performer we encountered for two brief numbers. CJ was back last night, … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged | Leave a comment

Trajectory to Elysium

Posted on August 20, 2013 by barczablog

I try not to give away the plots of films I review.  As I write my second piece within a week of seeing Elysium, I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who has not yet seen it. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Psychology and perception | Leave a comment

Jobs

Posted on August 18, 2013 by barczablog

Jobs is Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple.  While Steve Wozniak may have been the better programmer/designer, Jobs was a visionary. I can’t help recalling The Social Network, the film that told us about Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild Facebook.  … Continue reading →

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Elysium

Posted on August 17, 2013 by barczablog

Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 (2009) is the most original film I’ve seen in a long time, a mash-up of science fiction tropes and some very political elements.  I wrote about it in passing in a long rambling essay (long even … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Six years since Richard Bradshaw

Posted on August 16, 2013 by barczablog

It was August 15, 2007.  I recall hearing the news that Richard Bradshaw had died. The Canadian Opera Company now have a resident conductor & a general director. Johannes Debus conducts the COC Orchestra & Alexander Neef is the canny … Continue reading →

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Ai Weiwei According to What?

Posted on August 15, 2013 by barczablog

Shortly after entering “According to What,” Ai Weiwei’s exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I experienced a magic moment, in my encounter with  “Tea House”, a deceptively simple installation by the artist. Here’s what this piece usually looks like.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment