Monthly Archives: December 2020

Wohin: where do we go from here? now what?

Posted on December 31, 2020 by barczablog

As we come to the end of 2020, we may wonder. Where do we go from here? Now what? It’s in that spirit that I invoke a Schubert song, “Wohin” from his cycle Die Schöne Müllerin. First there was a … Continue reading →

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Wagner, Mendelssohn, Korngold & beyond with Sam

Posted on December 29, 2020 by barczablog

Sam appears to be feeling a lot better. Last week began with her staggering weakly, doing a scary impersonation of a carcass (lying on her side so forlorn in appearance that a couple of times I was asked to check … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking back, aka Alex Ross’s Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music

Posted on December 28, 2020 by barczablog

I’m ending 2020 with a pair of complementary book reviews. No they’re not in any way similar in their topics, yet they frame the transition to a new year rather well. Fareed Zakaria’s Ten Lessons for a Post-pandemic World, (the … Continue reading →

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Schirmer Serenade: a cure for Sam’s insomnia

Posted on December 27, 2020 by barczablog

Last night Sam the dog went to bed but didn’t close her eyes. It’s disturbing. As you may have read in other recent posts, she’s sick. The liver isn’t working right, an incurable malady whether you’re a human or a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

How to get your dog to swallow that pill

Posted on December 26, 2020 by barczablog

I’m sharing this little tidbit because when I googled there was no sign of this idea. It came from our veterinarian. Perhaps it will be universally known someday but for the moment would seem to be a well-kept secret. Let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Messiah / Complex

Posted on December 20, 2020 by barczablog

There’s nothing simple about Messiah/Complex, a new film that’s currently available for streaming from the Against the Grain Theatre website until January 7th. Complex? It’s an adaptation of Handel’s popular oratorio, a co-production of Against the Grain Theatre and Against … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beethoven 250: 2020 vision

Posted on December 15, 2020 by barczablog

It’s an oxymoron of a year, this 2020 that is a little over two weeks from its conclusion. Social butterflies (those of us who self-identify as extroverts & are therefore energized by other people) have no choice but to go … Continue reading →

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Mad Pupparazzo

Posted on December 15, 2020 by barczablog

I follow her around with my phone, taking pictures not so much a paparazzo as a pupparazzo. Samantha (SAM for short) seems to like the attention. The pictures? It’s simply that she’s irresistible. I want to capture those beautiful moments. … Continue reading →

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Beethoven 250: Immortal Beloved

Posted on December 15, 2020 by barczablog

Immortal Beloved (1994)  is one of my favorite films.  While I’ve been told by a Beethoven scholar that the facts aren’t correct in the film, that doesn’t stop me from liking it. How could it be otherwise? Spoiler alert #1: … Continue reading →

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Allied Music Centre — Massey Hall

Posted on December 9, 2020 by barczablog

Allied Properties makes a transformative contribution to the Massey Hall Revitalization expanding the scope of the project. Featuring an additional performance venue and new dedicated spaces for artist development and community education initiatives (TORONTO – December 8, 2020) – With enormous … Continue reading →

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