Author Archives: barczablog

Adanya Dunn rescuing Grande Duchesse for Toronto Operetta Theatre: an interview

Posted on October 9, 2026 by barczablog

Adanya Dunn is a singer I know from modern opera productions with companies such as Tapestry Opera, FAWN Chamber Creative or Against the Grain. I heard that the singer who was supposed to sing the title role in Toronto Operetta … Continue reading →

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Multiple layers and questions raised by Prophetess at Tarragon

Posted on October 8, 2026 by barczablog

My first impression of Prophetess was one of pure delight, laughing with an enthusiastic Tarragon Theatre audience at the delightful clarity of playwright Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho) and the direction of Mike Payette. Watching Margaret, a professor obsessed with … Continue reading →

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Drama and lyricism from Scarborough Philharmonic Showpieces

Posted on October 4, 2026 by barczablog

Scarborough Philharmonic opened their 2026-27 season Friday October 2nd with something of a bombshell announcement. SPO’s Artistic Director & Conductor Ronald Royer stood before us, disclosing that he’s fighting cancer. He confidently predicted he would beat it, returning fully next … Continue reading →

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Provocative To a Flame for an audist world

Posted on October 1, 2026 by barczablog

I’ve learned a new word. My new word is “audism“: discrimination or prejudice against deaf individuals. So if someone practising racism is a racist (practicing discrimination around race), I would add the word audist. When I first tried to type … Continue reading →

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Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho) talks about Prophetess: an interview

Posted on September 29, 2026 by barczablog

I am intrigued by Prophetess, a new play from Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho) to open October 7th at Tarragon Theatre, described this way on their website: Margaret, the Chair of her English Department — and the Queen of Etymology … Continue reading →

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Irresistible Traviata from Canadian Opera Company learning the lessons of Avis.

Posted on September 28, 2026 by barczablog

I feel fortunate that I had the privilege of seeing Verdi’s La Traviata today through the eyes of someone discovering the work for the first time, the Canadian Opera Company matinee at the Four Seasons Centre. When I arrived Erika … Continue reading →

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Tafelmusik and Jakob Lehmann introduce us to Sophie Gail, Louise Farrenc and also Beethoven

Posted on September 26, 2026 by barczablog

The Tafelmusik concert I heard Friday night at Koerner Hall makes an interesting chaser to the Toronto Symphony Concert I saw Thursday, my previous lengthy rapturous review. Yes there’s a lot going on in Toronto, and these two concerts on … Continue reading →

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Yuja Wang plays Prokofiev: a study in contrasts to open the Toronto Symphony season

Posted on September 25, 2026 by barczablog

“Yuja Wang Plays Prokofiev” might be the title of the Toronto Symphony’s opening concert of the 2026-27 season Thursday September 24th, but we heard a great deal more last night. Yuja also played four brilliant encores in a breath-taking display … Continue reading →

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Having it both ways with Measure for Measure at Crow’s Theatre

Posted on September 21, 2026 by barczablog

Measure for Measure is one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays”. It straddles genre boundaries, enigmatic & challenging, darkly funny. Yes it’s still considered a comedy even though we hear a lot about executions & life in prison, offering glimpses of a … Continue reading →

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Questions for composer Linda Catlin Smith: an interview

Posted on September 19, 2026 by barczablog

Linda Catlin Smith is a composer I’m pleased to interview, as a couple of her works are about to be premiered, including one by the Toronto Symphony next week. Her music is heard and acclaimed around the world, whether it’s … Continue reading →

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