Monthly Archives: October 2024

2024 Centre Stage Ensemble Studio Competition

Posted on October 31, 2024 by barczablog

Tonight was the Center Stage competition, seven soloists singing with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra led by Johannes Debus at the Four Seasons Centre. I wasn’t there. I watched the livestream from home, pleasantly surprised by the quality of what … Continue reading →

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Her Name is Lucy Barton

Posted on October 24, 2024 by barczablog

I just came home from seeing My Name is Lucy Barton at the Bluma Appel theatre, in Canadian Stage’s new production of Rona Munro’s 2018 adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s 2016 novel of the same name. It felt so close to … Continue reading →

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Nabucco not as written

Posted on October 23, 2024 by barczablog

I had another chance to see the Canadian Opera Company’s Nabucco last Saturday, this time using my subscription seat. The first time courtesy of the COC comp ticket I watched and listened as a reviewer, while this time it was … Continue reading →

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A natural high from Tafelmusik’s Feast of Unknowns

Posted on October 19, 2024 by barczablog

Tafelmusik have outdone themselves this time. This concert titled Feast for the Senses was an exploration of new flavours presented with the assistance of Amandine Beyer, guest director and violin soloist, a genuine feast. Baroque for most people means Bach … Continue reading →

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Everlastingness: Micah Schroeder and Stéphane Mayer in concert October 22nd– POSTPONED

Posted on October 15, 2024 by barczablog

UPDATE from Micah Schroeder (via Facebook)  “It is with a heavy heart that due to unforeseen personal circumstances of one of our performers, we are no longer able to present our recital Everlastingness on Tuesday October 22. I was so … Continue reading →

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Ambitious COC Faust

Posted on October 14, 2024 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company have a new production of Charles Gounod’s 1859 opera Faust, telling the tale of the old man who sells his soul to the devil for youth and romance. Gounod’s opera is but one of the many … Continue reading →

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Sankofa: The Soldier’s Tale Retold, and Andrew Burashko’s farewell to Art of Time

Posted on October 9, 2024 by barczablog

For the last 25 years, Art of Time Ensemble has been on the cutting edge of the performing arts in Canada, fusing music with theatre, dance, film and literature in unique and unprecedented ways. The list of illustrious artists who … Continue reading →

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Rachel Fenlon talks about her self-accompanied Winterreise

Posted on October 8, 2024 by barczablog

It sounds so simple: a self-accompanied Winterreise. It’s already a significant achievement to either sing the songs or play the piano part of Franz Schubert’s romantic song-cycle of the lonely winter wanderer. But doing both at the same time? A … Continue reading →

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COC’s timely Nabucco

Posted on October 6, 2024 by barczablog

I’ve just seen the Canadian Opera Company’s new Nabucco, a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s 1842 work from Lyric Opera of Chicago greeted by a rapturous audience at Four Seasons Centre this afternoon. I never thought that Nabucco could feel so … Continue reading →

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A seriously playful TSO program

Posted on October 5, 2024 by barczablog

The search for fun can be a serious pursuit. Play is the operative word for a Toronto Symphony program titled “Spirited Overtures:” Gioachino Rossini–Overture to The Barber of SevilleIgor Stravinsky–Jeu de cartes (Card Game)–intermission–Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart–Violin Concerto No. 3 in … Continue reading →

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