Author Archives: barczablog

Eight Singers Drinking: and Singing

Posted on November 9, 2019

While eight singers may have been drinking eight drinks at 8:00 pm on November 8th no one ate much of anything. (see what I did there?) At first I just thought it was a fun exercise, an excuse for a … Continue reading →

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New & Improved Don Giovanni

Posted on November 3, 2019

I saw Opera Atelier’s revival of Don Giovanni that’s running at the Ed Mirvish Theatre.  I loved it last time & it continues to thrill me as though it weren’t an opera I’ve known since childhood. But it feels new.  … Continue reading →

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The Ethics Project

Posted on November 1, 2019

The Ethics Project presents October 31- Nov. 12, 2019 in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal Remembering Terezín November 4, 10, and 12, 2019, in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. The Schulich Singers, McGill University’s premier choral ensemble, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, conductor, and guest artists … Continue reading →

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The Bald Soprano

Posted on October 31, 2019

I’ve just seen the Théâtre Français de Toronto production of La Cantatrice Chauve aka The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco, at the upstairs space at the Berkeley Street Theatre. I must apologize that the run is almost over, as I … Continue reading →

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Opera Atelier Don Giovanni: Toronto context

Posted on October 28, 2019

Two down, one to go as far as the big operas are concerned. Robert Wilson’s Turandot and David McVicar’s Rusalka, a pair of fairy-tale operas in visually brilliant productions have finished at the Canadian Opera Company, while Opera Atelier are … Continue reading →

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Skye Consort and Emma Björling: right after trick-or-treating

Posted on October 22, 2019

Within the first ten seconds of this new CD I knew I was going to like it. It’s Skye Consort & Emma Björling, and the first cut on the album is “Herr Hillebrand”, a traditional Medieval Swedish ballad, in Swedish. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Popular music & culture, Press Releases and Announcements, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Singing through Centuries: TMC’s 125th

Posted on October 21, 2019

Today the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir celebrated their 125th anniversary with a gala concert at Koerner Hall, joined for the occasion by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (who haven’t yet had their centennial, and who only came into existence in 1922). Led … Continue reading →

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