Monthly Archives: September 2013

Ready for Prime Time: Savitri & Sam

Posted on September 29, 2013 by barczablog

Okay, maybe the headline tells you what show i am about to watch on TV, coming home from a (hint hint) Saturday night opera. But i really mean it, they’re ready. Tonight I went to see a public presentation … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | Tagged Canadian Rep Theatre, Claude Debussy, Giles Tomkins, Gregory Oh, John Mills-Cockell, Ken Gass, Marion Newman, Michael Barrett, Pelleas et Melisande, Savitry & Sam, Zorana Sadiq | 3 Comments

Bohemian courtship: being Rodolfo, winning Mimi

Posted on September 28, 2013 by barczablog

Who is Rodolfo? He is a young poet in love. And he is the hero of Puccini’s La Bohème, opening in a new Canadian Opera Company production on October 3rd at the Four Seasons Centre. In this production, three different … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Amsterdam, Canadian Opera Company, Concertgebouw, Dimitri Pittas, Eric Margiore, La boheme, Michael Fabiano, Mimi, Rodolfo, Verdi Requiem | 1 Comment

Savitri & Sam Workshop

Posted on September 27, 2013 by barczablog

As promised, here’s the information about the workshop of Savitri & Sam, a new opera under development, with a libretto by Ken Gass & music composed by John Mills-Cockell. This is from Ken Gass: …Because, a) it’s a workshop, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

The end of the beginning

Posted on September 26, 2013 by barczablog

I thought about what to call this, the first free concert of the season from the Canadian Opera Company at the Richard Bradshaw Auditorium: Alpha & Omega? (no… too Biblical) Ave Atque Vale? (no…obscure) Alumni Reunion? (hm….partly) The first program … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Neef, Andrew Haji, Aviva Fortunata, Canadian Opera Company, Charlotte Burrage, Claire de Sévigné, Clarence Frazer, Danielle MacMillan, Gordon Bintner, Janet Stubbs, Lotfi Mansouri, Michael Shannon, Richard Strauss | Leave a comment

10 Questions for Stuart Graham

Posted on September 26, 2013 by barczablog

Stuart Graham is a teacher, a singer & founder of Atelier S. The Saskatchewan born baritone received his formal education at the Faculty of Music of McGill University with Bernard Turgeon. Graham has been heard in recital, oratorio and in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Bernard Turgeon, Richard Wagner, Stuart Graham | 1 Comment

Tapestry Briefs

Posted on September 21, 2013 by barczablog

Back i go to the laboratory. A couple of nights ago I wrote about YouTopia and spoke of the virtues of experimentation. The Tapestry Briefs are a dozen short works from a handful of collaborators who were paired off for … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Carla Huhtanen, Cecilia Livingston, Gregory Oh, Jennifer Tung, Keith Klassen, Kristina Szabó, Morris Panych, Nicolas Billon, Peter McGillivray, Tapestry Briefs | 2 Comments

Tafelmusik Beethoven 1 & 2

Posted on September 20, 2013 by barczablog

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra could drop the word “baroque” if they wanted. Tonight I heard more evidence that they can play just about anything. Their program was all Beethoven, namely the first and second symphonies, plus the overture to Creatures of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Beethoven, Bruno Weil, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra | Leave a comment

The Patriarch

Posted on September 16, 2013 by barczablog

David Warrack is writing an oratorio on the life of Abraham, the Biblical patriarch. I’m thrilled to be participating in a concert presentation of excerpts. We’ve had some rehearsals, with about a week to go until the concert at Metropolitan … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged Abraham, David Warrack, Frank Zappa, Jackie Richardson, Metrolitan United Church, Moshe Hammer, Paul Hindemith | Leave a comment

YouTopia

Posted on September 13, 2013 by barczablog

Tonight at a performance of Bruce Barton’s YouTopia I was reminded of the difference between the mandate of University of Toronto’s “Drama Centre” (recently renamed “Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies”) and various theatre schools such as Ryerson or … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews, University life | Tagged Adam Paolozza, Ai Weiwei, Bruce Barton, Centre for Drama, Drama Centre, Kiran Friesen, Michael Levine, Robert Lepage, Ryerson, Theatre & Performance Studies, University of Toronto, Vertical City, York, YouTopia | 2 Comments

10 Questions for John Mills-Cockell

Posted on September 8, 2013 by barczablog

I only found out who John Mills-Cockell was after the fact of encountering his music without knowing who he was. A tune by Syrinx –“Tillicum”— was my first encounter with sounds that have been near & dear to my heart, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Ann Southam, Brian Richmond, Buckminster Fuller, Dr Samuel Dolin, Factory Theatre, Felix Pappalardi, Gus Ciamaga, Guy Sprung, John Mills-Cockell, Ken Gass, Michael Hayden, Myron Shaffer, National Ballet of Canada, Peter Hinton, Richard Rose, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Toronto Dance Theatre, Udo Kasemets | 6 Comments