Author Archives: barczablog

World Premiere of  Bandits in the Valley

Posted on August 15, 2017

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2017 Tapestry Opera Presents the World Premiere of  Bandits in the Valley at Toronto’s Historic Todmorden Mills -A free, all-ages opera for the community, weekends in September- TORONTO, ON: Canada’s leading contemporary opera company, Tapestry Opera, in conjunction with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

Syrinx: The way the future used to sound

Posted on August 15, 2017

One can’t write objectively about friends, especially when those old friends are beloved pieces of music. I’m very fortunate to get all sorts of wonderful recordings through the mail.  One of the best things about the summertime, when there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Popular music & culture | 2 Comments

The Ethics of Sweat 

Posted on August 6, 2017

Sweat is the name of the opera produced this summer by The Bicycle Opera Project. The name seems like a natural for a company who pull opera around the country behind their cycles, even if tonight was an unseasonably cool … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations | Leave a comment

Toronto Summer Stoicism

Posted on August 4, 2017

Summer festivals can be a challenge.  Bayreuth may be the ne plus ultra for Wagner but you sit on hard seats as your reward for having traveled around the world.  Tonight’s Toronto Summer Music Festival concert (in Walter Hall, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Jonathan Crow and Philip Chiu

Posted on August 1, 2017

Tonight’s Toronto Summer Music Concert featured violinist Jonathan Crow & pianist Philip Chiu. The first guy is the draw.  Jonathan Crow is the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster, and in his first season as the artistic director of Toronto Summer Music … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane

Posted on July 29, 2017

I posted a few pictures to Facebook at the opening of SOLT’s all-Canadian program of two operas at the Robert Gill Theatre, one by John Beckwith who turned 90 earlier this year, one by a later generation in the person … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations, university life | Leave a comment

Canadian double delight

Posted on July 29, 2017

Rare as it may be to encounter a full evening of opera from Canadian composers, that’s what Summer Opera Lyric Theatre offered tonight in their season opener.  The Robert Gill Theatre was packed with a receptive crowd for a double … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews, Theatre & musicals | Leave a comment