Monthly Archives: April 2016

Carmen Encore

Posted on April 29, 2016 by barczablog

The second cast in the Canadian Opera Company’s Carmen production directed by Joel Ivany brought us into a more realistic world than what we’d seen in the opening night’s cast. This is a cast that’s physically beautiful, from the heroic … Continue reading →

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Colourful Kensington

Posted on April 22, 2016 by barczablog

Late this afternoon, hungrier than I’d expected to be, I found myself at the corner of Oxford & Augusta. The Morrocan Stew I consumed at Urban Herbivore left me full.  That should have been enough. But then I noticed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition | 3 Comments

A Carmen that ends differently

Posted on April 18, 2016 by barczablog

When I’ve missed opening night I try desperately to avoid reading other reviews, a sort of anxiety of influence. Social media makes it tough when you see headlines proclaiming the brilliance of that show: as I saw on Facebook concerning Joel … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera | 1 Comment

Sweet Swan of Avon: The Musicians In Ordinary celebrate William Shakespeare

Posted on April 14, 2016 by barczablog

Sweet Swan of Avon – Series of Words and Music Concludes THE MUSICIANS IN ORDINARY CELEBRATE SHAKESPEARE ON ACTUAL 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH, APRIL 23   ENGLISH-LANGUAGE AUTHORITY & AUTHOR SETH LERER READS IN ORIGINAL PRONUNCIATION Four centuries to … Continue reading →

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Famous tunes at the TSO

Posted on April 11, 2016 by barczablog

And the beat goes on. While there may have been a change of leadership, the Toronto Symphony hot streak continues, with bold performances onstage & at the box office. Sunday afternoon I attended the second of a pair of concerts … Continue reading →

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Lucio Silla: slaying the tyrant at the Elgin Theatre

Posted on April 10, 2016 by barczablog

Tonight I saw Opera Atelier’s Lucio Silla, an opera receiving its Canadian premiere production at the Elgin Theatre. I’ve wondered what was so special about this opera, having heard about previous Opera Atelier presentations of the work in Europe, and … Continue reading →

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Questions for Ashlie Corcoran: Löhle’s das ding

Posted on April 7, 2016 by barczablog

Ashlie Corcoran, Artistic Director at the Thousand Islands Playhouse since 2012, Co-Founder and Artistic Producer for Theatre Smash, directs both theatre and opera, working across Canada and internationally. Next season Ashlie will return to Toronto to direct the Canadian Opera … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | 1 Comment

The Walrus Talks: Spirituality or ymmv

Posted on April 5, 2016 by barczablog

A friend took me to Walrus Talks tonight. Evidently the magazine organizes these colloquia to investigate a topic such as tonight’s theme, spirituality. It seemed apt that we were at Trinity-St Paul’s, a space I think of as much for … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

Who’s that girl: Laura, Stella, Iris or Betsy

Posted on April 5, 2016 by barczablog

Bernard Herrmann died on Christmas Eve 1975 the day after he had finished recording the score to Taxi Driver. I can’t help thinking of the score as a natural conclusion to one of the big issues of his life. Back … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology | Leave a comment

Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt

Posted on April 3, 2016 by barczablog

I saw the second of two performances in the world premiere run of Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt, a new opera composed by Peter Togni from a libretto by Sharon Singer, presented by Opera in Concert – Voicebox. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 4 Comments