Author Archives: barczablog

Back to where it all began: Against the Grain Theatre announce seventh season

Against the Grain Theatre goes back to its roots for seventh season in 2016/2017 A classic remount and a residency with the Canadian Opera Company bring AtG back to where it all began TORONTO — Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) … Continue reading

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THE SECRET GARDEN in concert

Podium Concert Productions presents THE SECRET GARDEN New Company to focus on Musical Theatre ‘in Concert’ Presentations Inaugural Production set for January 2017 Podium Concert Productions (Peter da Costa and Mark Camilleri) proudly presents the Tony Award®-winning musical THE SECRET … Continue reading

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Together We’re Unlimited: A benefit concert

Merle Garbe & Jeff Gilburd present TOGETHER WE’RE UNLIMITED A Benefit Concert in Support of Thyroid Cancer Research  Toronto, August, 2016 – TOGETHER WE’RE UNLIMITED is a benefit concert in   celebration of Hope and Possibilities, with all proceeds designated to … Continue reading

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Encounter with Hilary Kilbourn

I posted a press release earlier this week, concerning someone who passed through my life briefly. One paragraph in particular caught my eye: About The Hilary Kilbourn Memorial Fund Hilary continues to cast her spell over the Island through good … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | 2 Comments

Hilary Kilbourn Memorial Benefit

September 6, 2016 Hilary Kilbourn Memorial Benefit To raise money to purchase a grand piano Toronto Island, ON.  September 18, 2016 3:00-5:00PM Toronto Island, ON – The St. Andrew-by-the-Lake Community proves time and again that great music is priceless & timeless. … Continue reading

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Brady, Kaepernick, Eastwood and Trump 

  The arts confuse us regularly, somewhat like life itself.  One minute we’re kept at a distance by a performance using some alienating device calling attention to the artifice, the next we’re sucked into the world we’re watching.  I believe … Continue reading

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Questions for Sabatino Vacca as SOLO begins

Sabatino Vacca is a busy man, Music Director of the Cambridge Symphony, Milton Philharmonic and the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestras, and now the Artistic Director of the brand-new Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, or “SOLO”.  For the launch of SOLO’s first season a … Continue reading

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Taking up Lance’s nationalist challenge to the CBC #Canada150

Lawrence Wiliford (AKA Lance Wiliford) posted the following on Facebook today: I challenge @CBCMusic @CBCclassical @CBCArts to air 15 mins/day of music by Canadian classical composers during 2017. Not film or crossover.#Canada150. Canadian Music Centre Canadian League of Composers/La Ligue … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | 6 Comments

Ariodante DVD

One of my objectives in my popular operas course (to begin in September at U of T) is to survey the operas being presented by the local companies. In anticipation of the Canadian Opera Company’s fall season production of Handel’s … Continue reading

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Love, Marilyn

Ever notice how patterns may appear around you? The two films I saw this week (one on the big screen, one, seen now at least 3 times this past week at home) couldn’t be more different, at least on the … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals | Leave a comment