Monthly Archives: October 2014

Michaelangelo, Rodin and genius

Posted on October 16, 2014 by barczablog

My first look yesterday at the new Art Gallery of Ontario show, “Michaelangelo: Quest for Genius”, was an ecstatic experience. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so strongly that a curatorial team understand me & my concerns coming to this … Continue reading →

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

Alcina preview at RBA

Posted on October 14, 2014 by barczablog

The season of Thanksgiving continues, as I feel extraordinarily blessed for the wonderful day I am having. Not only did I have my three best nights in the theatre since the beginning of October (two performances of Falstaff and one … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Butterfly with laughter and tears

Posted on October 12, 2014 by barczablog

It’s like no Madama Butterfly I’ve ever seen. The new Canadian Opera Company production is really the same one they’ve been staging for years, yet very different in its new incarnation. There are two parallel casts performing Puccini’s intercultural tear-jerker … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 8 Comments

10 Questions for Elizabeth DeShong

Posted on October 11, 2014 by barczablog

Elizabeth DeShong is singing big roles in the biggest houses. She’s sung Suzuki (the role she’s singing in a Canadian Opera Company production that’s opening tonight at the Four Seasons Centre) at the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera Company, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 3 Comments

Falstaff’s Communion

Posted on October 10, 2014 by barczablog

I saw the second performance of the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Falstaff tonight, enjoying it even more than the first time. Where my first view was from up in ring 3—ideal to get the big picture but too far … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 5 Comments

Colin Ainsworth, Stephen Ralls and the songs of Derek Holman

Posted on October 7, 2014 by barczablog

Today’s free noon-hour concert at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre was a rarefied affair, offering us a glimpse of some intimate relationships.  Yes a concert is a public event in front of hundreds of people, but that’s only after several stages.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Kayla Wong – Allure

Posted on October 5, 2014 by barczablog

I’ve been listening to Kayla Wong’s CD Allure incessantly in my car for the past couple of weeks. Wong emailed me to tell me about herself and the recording. I listened to a couple of samples, deciding that yes this … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Girl with Flaxen Hair goes to the opera

Posted on October 4, 2014 by barczablog

What’s the reality underlying the music? People write music & perform music, and the notes & phrases are parts of our day, parts of our lives. Last night I wanted to leave early to go to the opera. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | 2 Comments

Gerald Finley is Falstaff

Posted on October 4, 2014 by barczablog

Every time Gerald Finley takes on the role of Falstaff it means’ a two hour makeup ordeal .  Finley is like a classier version of Mike Myers’ “Fat Bastard”, and yet so much more. Falstaff? Yes he is Shakespeare’s fat man, a bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , | 7 Comments