Author Archives: barczablog

Metamorphoses 2023

Last night I watched a brand new opera featuring a sensual feast of colours hitting the eye and ear. Today I was at Crow’s Theatre, enjoying Metamorphoses 2023 from Theatre Smith-Gilmour, in Ovid’s stories of transformations of gods & humans, … Continue reading

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Glorious Of the Sea

Of the Sea opened tonight to tumultuous applause from the Bluma Appel Theatre crowd, a co-production of Obsidian Theatre & Tapestry Opera. Kanika Ambrose (libretto) and Ian Cusson (music) have collaborated to bring a beautiful myth to life. I heard … Continue reading

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Gimeno conducts Beethoven 5

Wednesday night was the latest example of the remarkable chemistry we see, hear and feel between the Toronto Symphony and their new music director Gustavo Gimeno, continuing the magic of their 100th anniversary season. Last night’s program included Madrigal: Celebration … Continue reading

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L’Amant anonyme

Voicebox Opera in Concert presented the last performance of their season series dedicated to Mozart and the operas of his time, L’Amant anonyme by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges aka Joseph Boulogne, sometimes called “The Black Mozart”. His life story … Continue reading

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Rhino

Rhino is an adaptation of Ionesco’s 1959 absurdist play Rhinoceros, by Aleksandar (Sasha) Lukac and Emilie Varga. Last night I watched its premiere at Theatre Glendon with students in Lukac’s drama class. It’s much shorter than the original. As I … Continue reading

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I love the smell of gasoline: questions for Claren Grosz

The description of Claren Grosz’s new show caught my eye. I love the smell of gasoline dives into Western alienation, the Canadian oil and gas machine and what it all means in the face of an environmental apocalypse. Her title … Continue reading

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Opera York’s Magic Flute

It was worth the drive to Richmond Hill yesterday to see Opera York’s production of The Magic Flute, their first in-person return to the stage since the pandemic. While Friday night’s snow-storm likely reduced attendance, Sunday’s matinee was sold out. … Continue reading

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Aleksandar Lukac discusses his adaptation of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros

Rhino is Aleksandar (Sasha) Lukac’s adaptation of Rhinoceros, opening March 9th at Glendon College. Sasha directed over sixty professional theatre productions in his native Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Bosnia), which garnered seven Grand Prix awards for Best Director as well … Continue reading

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Excited by Canadian Opera Company 2023-24 season announcement

When I saw the email on Thursday from the Canadian Opera Company announcing their 2023-2024 season it moved me to say this on Facebook: That’s more like it! COC’s 2023-24 season: Fidelio, La Boheme, Cunning Little Vixen, Don Pasquale, Don … Continue reading

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Colin Eatock’s Birthday concert

No there was no cake or champagne but I’m watching my weight and can’t drive home to Scarborough if I’ve been drinking. Yet it was truly like a party, a celebration of our host Colin Eatock on the occasion of … Continue reading

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