Monthly Archives: October 2015

Back to the Future, live with Toronto Symphony

Posted on October 18, 2015 by barczablog

“Great Scott! After thirty years we find ourselves being sent Back to the Future. This time the re-entry is in the concert hall…” So said composer Alan Silvestri in his program note for showings this weekend of Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology | 1 Comment

Enough tenors for now: COC 2015 Ensemble Studio Finalists

Posted on October 17, 2015 by barczablog

It should be no surprise that the eight finalists just announced for the the COC’s 2015 Ensemble Studio competition don’t contain any tenors in the group. No wonder, when last year the top three places in the competition went to tenors, … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

Tragic Canadians in Traviata

Posted on October 17, 2015 by barczablog

I had a second look at Arin Arbus’ production of Verdi’s La traviata for the Canadian Opera Company with a few cast changes. At the centre of this world is Joyce El-Khoury in the title role, opposite Andrew Haji as … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

10 questions for Peggy Kriha Dye: Armide

Posted on October 15, 2015 by barczablog

Soprano Peggy Kriha Dye has been one of the keys to Opera Atelier’s successes in Toronto, in the title roles of Armide (Toronto, Versailles, Glimmerglass Festival) and L’Incoronazione di Poppea, as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Ilia in … Continue reading →

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

Opera Lyra in Ottawa/Gatineau to cease operations

Posted on October 14, 2015 by barczablog

Ottawa, October 14, 2015. The Board of Directors of Opera Lyra issued the following statement today. It is with deep regret that we have decided to cease operations, effective today. There will be an immediate shutdown of the current performance … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | 2 Comments

10 questions for Andrew Haji

Posted on October 13, 2015 by barczablog

You may know tenor Andrew Haji as a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, for his appearances with the COC in the Ensemble Studio performance of The Barber of Seville (as Count Almaviva in May 2015), and Così … Continue reading →

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

Eve Egoyan CD launch Oct 16-18

Posted on October 13, 2015 by barczablog

“Less is more.” Eve Egoyan performs intimate contemporary piano music in an intimate space at Toronto’s Small World Music Centre, October 16 – 18. This distinctive recital programme features music by Toronto composers John Mark Sherlock, Nick Storring and Linda … Continue reading →

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The wit and wisdom of Eldritch Theatre’s Doctor Wuthergloom

Posted on October 11, 2015 by barczablog

Praetorius Wuthergloom is a 142 year-old widower, an itinerant mediciner of supernatural blight & exorcist–the titles he gives himself—whose most recent extravaganza ended tonight, alas, with the closing performance of his show at the Red Sandcastle Theatre. Be not afeared, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Richard Margison as Abraham: David Warrack’s new oratorio

Posted on October 10, 2015 by barczablog

Abraham, an oratorio by David Warrack about the patriarch of three major faiths, will bring together leading Toronto artists in a special fundraising performance for Syrian refugees, Wednesday, October 28, 8 p.m. at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

COC traviata and the three faces of Violetta

Posted on October 9, 2015 by barczablog

I witnessed something rare and wonderful at the opening of the Canadian Opera Company’s la traviata at the Four Seasons Centre tonight. It’s almost impossible to do justice to the role of Violetta that Verdi created in his adaptation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 6 Comments