Author Archives: barczablog

Animals in the neighbourhood

Posted on February 20, 2021 by barczablog

Some things are very consistent, the same every year. That doesn’t mean that people notice, of course. When one has nowhere else to turn, there’s always the sky & the planet we inhabit. The manifestations of our celestial journey, the … Continue reading →

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Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada to receive government support for digital infrastructure

Posted on February 18, 2021 by barczablog

Toronto – In an announcement made this morning by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Opera Company will receive $644,372 in crucial funding provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund toward the Digital Infrastructure Enhancements Project at the Four … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

Shore’s new leitmotiv

Posted on February 18, 2021 by barczablog

Erika & I watched A Dangerous Method (2011) tonight. Have you seen it? It’s a fascinating film directed by David Cronenberg starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender & Keira Knightley, all three in fine form portraying, respectively, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung … Continue reading →

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Two Voices juxtaposed by Opera in Concert

Posted on February 11, 2021 by barczablog

The one act play La Voix Humaine was written by Jean Cocteau in 1928. The one act opera La Voix Humaine based on that play was composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. Each one is a monodrama, presented by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jussi 2021

Posted on February 3, 2021 by barczablog

I’m reading Jussi, a biography of Swedish tenor Jussi Björling from his widow Anna-Lisa Björling, and a surprisingly honest look at the life of a famous singer. It’s an appropriate week to think about Jussi. He used to celebrate his … Continue reading →

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François Girard’s Flying Dutchman

Posted on January 30, 2021 by barczablog

François Girard’s production of Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman is tonight’s free opera on the Metropolitan Opera website, available also tomorrow until the early evening when Rigoletto takes over. It’s new as in, having premiered in 2020. I heard & … Continue reading →

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Mandala: The Beauty of Impermanence

Posted on January 25, 2021 by barczablog

I heard from Larry Beckwith, who is Artistic Producer of Confluence Concerts, that they’re offering something titled Mandala: The Beauty of Impermanence: “Premiering OnlineWednesday,January 27, 20216:30 pm Pre-Concert Chat:Make a Mandala6:50 pm ConcertAvailable untilWednesday,February 10, 2021 onConfluence Concerts’YouTube ChannelCLICK HERE” … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Personal ruminations & essays, Press Releases and Announcements, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A tale of the stub, or Pollyanna Interrupted

Posted on January 20, 2021 by barczablog

As I was choosing my wardrobe for a trip to my mom’s place for lunch, I opted as usual to try to look a bit nicer for her, pulling out a pair of dress-pants that I realized haven’t been touched … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Leave a comment

Bernie Sanders and The Samiotics of the Carolina Dog

Posted on January 15, 2021 by barczablog

Sam the dog seems to be getting better. Her bloodwork shows that the antibiotics have worked. Her recovery is the main message I wanted to convey for anyone who had been worried by my previous messages. As you probably know, … Continue reading →

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Zappa

Posted on January 13, 2021 by barczablog

2020 ended with a pair of Z’s that could just as easily be seen as the start of 2021. After Fareed Zakaria’s book, it’s Zappa, a documentary released late in 2020. Where Fareed is analyzing historical trends with an eye … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments