Author Archives: barczablog

Mind-boggling Mother of Us All

Posted on May 23, 2022 by barczablog

It was excellent, this Canadian premiere of The Mother of Us All, Virgil Thomson’s setting of Gertrude Stein’s poetic libretto. The opera tells us about Susan B Anthony starring Meghan Lindsay in the title role, presented under the auspices of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, Daniel Webster, Dion Mazerolle, Evan Korbut, Gertrude Stein, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Holly Chaplin, Joshua Clemenger, Kate Carver, Madeline Cooper, Meghan Lindsay, Robert Cooper, Stewart Hamilton, Susan B Anthony, Virgil Thomson, Voicebox Opera in Concert | 2 Comments

Closing show preview of what’s to come

Posted on May 22, 2022 by barczablog

My mantra is “I’m a lucky guy”. It’s admittedly designed to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, useful because you notice the good things happening to you if you begin with the belief in their likelihood, the presupposition of good fortune and … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Amplified Opera, Andrea Donaldson, Aria Umezawa, Canadian Opera Company, Caroline Wettergreen, disruptor-in-residence, Magic Flute, Nightwood Theatre, Queen of the Night, Teiya Kasahara, Theatre Gargantua | Leave a comment

Gimeno + Hannigan = Ear-candy

Posted on May 20, 2022 by barczablog

It was a splendid formula. Far be it from me to propose something as reductive as math in the headline, only that the concert is titled “Gimeno + Hannigan”, which is certainly a quick overview. Between them Gustavo Gimeno and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Barbara Hannigan, Gustavo Gimeno, Igor Stravinsky, Julia Mermelstein, Tash Aw, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Zosha Di Castri | 1 Comment

Kyle’s Campy Conan

Posted on May 14, 2022 by barczablog

Erika and I went to see Conan and the Stone of Kelior tonight. It’s the last night of the run of the pasticcio opera from Kyle McDonald at Alumnae Theatre. There’s a final matinee Sunday that I would have attended … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

Magic Flute revival

Posted on May 12, 2022 by barczablog

This is the third time in roughly a decade for the Canadian Opera Company to offer the Diane Paulus Magic Flute, with its meta-theatrical approach employing flamboyant visuals, from set and costume designer Myung Hee Cho. I hope I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Anna-Sophie Neher, Caroline Wettergreen, David Leigh, Diane Paulus, Gordon Bintner, Michael Colvin, Midori Marsh, Patrick Lange, Russell Braun, The Magic Flute | Leave a comment

Karen Bojti reflects on A Northern Lights Dream

Posted on May 10, 2022 by barczablog

Greetings Barczablog reader, Leslie Barcza was unable to attend the world premiere of Michael Rose’s, A Northern Lights Dream so I asked him for special permission to be a contributor in his absence. Karen BojtiCast member, A Northern Lights Dream … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, guest blog, Opera | Tagged Amy Moodie, Christina Raphaelle Haldane, Daniela Agostino, Gregory Finney, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Ian Backstrom, Karen Bojti, Kate Carver, Lauren Pearl, Lilian Brooks, Michael Rose, SOLT, Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Voicebox | Leave a comment

Good news COC Traviata

Posted on May 8, 2022 by barczablog

When Perryn Leech the Canadian Opera Company general director came out before the performance of La Traviata last night, it was the first time I’d seen him in person, after several messages in the virtual world. He spoke briefly to … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Arin Arbus, Cait O'Connor, Canadian Opera Company, Giuseppe Verdi, Johannes Debus, Perryn Leech | Leave a comment

Virtual Bach

Posted on May 7, 2022 by barczablog

While I hoped to go to Tafelmusik’s presentation of the Bach B-minor Mass Thursday night in Massey Hall it was not to be. I was still testing positive for COVID. Instead Friday night I chose to watch a live concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Joanne Lunn, Jonathan Adams, JS Bach, Masaaki Suzuki, Massey Hall, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Thomas Hobbs, Tim Mead | Leave a comment

TIFT: How about a shave?

Posted on May 2, 2022 by barczablog

TIFT to open tonsorial parlour in June. After a three-week pop-up appearance in London, UK, in 2018, TIFT is bringing their steady hands and sharp razors to cheeks and necks in need in Toronto in June. Located discreetly within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Talk is Free Theatre, TIFT | Leave a comment

News, positive and negative

Posted on April 28, 2022 by barczablog

It’s been a hard week so far. I’m heart-broken with the news in my inbox, that Elisa Citterio is leaving Tafelmusik. I can’t help but wonder about the subtexts for this change. Perhaps it’s just the pandemic and its deadly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Food, Health and Nutrition, Music and musicology, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Amanda Hale, Carmen, Elisa Citterio, Flying Dutchman, Georges Bizet, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Kye Marshall, Macbeth, Marriage of Figaro, Pomegranate, Quinn Kelsey, Richard Wagner, Sondra Radvanovsky, Tosca | 2 Comments