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Monthly Archives: July 2016
The Coronation of King George II
This was the most fun I’ve had at a concert since the epic minimalist concert (oxymoron?) in August 1st 2013. Then as now I believe we were seeing Toronto Summer Music Artistic Director Douglas McNabney pushing the envelope of what’s … Continue reading
Jamie Barton in Recital
Toronto Summer Music continued their tradition of featuring a female vocalist. In 2014 it was Sondra Radvanovsky, while in 2015 it was Karita Mattila. Each of those two concerts represented a coup, and was a highlight of that year, nevermind of … Continue reading
Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews
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Finding Dory and the symbolists
These days I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by emotions. I’ve had a death in the family (not a tragedy, when someone lives to a ripe old age, but still, it has stirred up a lot of feelings for me … Continue reading
Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, Opera, Personal ruminations, Reviews
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Lucretia: a messed up kind of story for a messed up time
Sometimes one escapes from the real world in the theatre, diverted from life. And sometimes theatre is such a perfect mirror that it reminds us of the craziness we’re seeing everywhere else. That latter choice –finding the craziness of the … Continue reading
Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews
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Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
I can’t help thinking that composers are sometimes badly appraised in their own century. I watched a documentary tonight that inspired me yet pained me, because it’s a nagging reminder of the undeserved obscurity enjoyed by Frank Zappa, and of … Continue reading
Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews
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Questions for Emma Char
Born in Kitchener – Waterloo, Ontario and raised in the Philadelphia area, Emma Char (who holds dual U.S. and Canadian Citizenship and currently resides in Toronto) recently crossed the border back to Canada to make debuts with Opéra de Montréal, … Continue reading
Posted in Opera, Questions, Questions
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London Calling: Toronto Summer Music Begins
Tonight’s concert kicked off Douglas McNabney’s final season as artistic director of the Toronto Summer Music Festival. “London Calling: Music in Great Britain” is the theme of the festival. Mother Nature even got into the act, offering us a proper … Continue reading
Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews
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