Author Archives: barczablog

Neighbourhood impacts

Posted on September 14, 2020

I was looking in the Canadian Opera Company’s latest publication, a shiny offering that arrived in the mail less than an hour ago, with the title “Audience Impact Report.” Speaking of impacts the mailing included the obligatory return envelope & … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carefully re-opening

Posted on September 1, 2020

If you’re over 50 years of age, you may be wondering about the resumption of theatre & concerts. We miss them. But we also know that there’s a pandemic on, and it’s especially hazardous for those who are older. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | 6 Comments

Remembering Elfriede Meindl

Posted on September 1, 2020

I was talking to my mother about the Meindls, namely Rolf & Elfriede. Reverend Rolf passed back in 2012, while Elfriede left us a just a few days ago. Although I know very little about them, they were a part … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Service or Business? the election selection

Posted on August 29, 2020

We’re helpless in the face of a mystery virus. It seems that everywhere you turn in the media, conspiracies are all around us. The gentler word is “hoax”, that stops short of the kind of thing one sees with ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Question on the radio

Posted on August 26, 2020

I was listening to a Chopin Waltz played on the radio as it came to its brilliant conclusion. The host said something under her breath, not entirely complimentary. “Why” she asked “does it build to that big loud bang at … Continue reading →

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What’s shaking in Scarborough

Posted on August 25, 2020

I’m no geologist. But I can’t help connecting two phenomena. The first one is simply the Scarborough Bluffs. They’re a beautiful formation, a tourist attraction. They’re made of sand. Are they strong? Yes and no. Sometimes big chunks of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged | 2 Comments

TSO Thais: via Massenet & Anatole France

Posted on August 12, 2020

The Toronto Symphony concert performance of Thaïs, recently released on Chandos, has me wishing we could see & hear more from Jules Massenet, the opera’s composer.  I begin to understand why the late Stuart Hamilton in his time with Opera … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Trump’s Too Much and Never Enough

Posted on July 29, 2020

I read Mary Trump’s book yesterday. I couldn’t put it down, and no that’s not just a figure of speech. I confess it did take me past midnight, reading 200+ pages, skipping nothing, re-reading a few key passages. We bought … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Psychology and perception | Tagged , | Leave a comment

An omen

Posted on July 29, 2020

On my visit today my mother asked me to bring her a book from another room, which she was going to read later.  And then she pulled out something else and started to read to me in Hungarian, asking me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

Walking the University of Toronto Campus Guide

Posted on July 27, 2020

I shouldn’t have needed a book to wake me up to the nuances & subtleties of my many connections to the University of Toronto. But it’s a bit like a family album, these beautiful pictures of loved ones to remind … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Books & Literature, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, University life | Tagged , | Leave a comment