Author Archives: barczablog

Jamie Barton in Recital

Posted on July 26, 2016 by barczablog

Toronto Summer Music continued their tradition of featuring a female vocalist.  In 2014 it was Sondra Radvanovsky, while in 2015 it was Karita Mattila.  Each of those two concerts represented a coup, and was a highlight of that year, nevermind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Finding Dory and the symbolists

Posted on July 24, 2016 by barczablog

These days I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by emotions. I’ve had a death in the family (not a tragedy, when someone lives to a ripe old age, but still, it has stirred up a lot of feelings for me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Leave a comment

Lucretia: a messed up kind of story for a messed up time

Posted on July 23, 2016 by barczablog

Sometimes one escapes from the real world in the theatre, diverted from life. And sometimes theatre is such a perfect mirror that it reminds us of the craziness we’re seeing everywhere else. That latter choice –finding the craziness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

Posted on July 19, 2016 by barczablog

I can’t help thinking that composers are sometimes badly appraised in their own century.  I watched a documentary tonight that inspired me yet pained me, because it’s a nagging reminder of the undeserved obscurity enjoyed by Frank Zappa, and of … Continue reading →

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Questions for Emma Char

Posted on July 17, 2016 by barczablog

Born in Kitchener – Waterloo, Ontario and raised in the Philadelphia area, Emma Char (who holds dual U.S. and Canadian Citizenship and currently resides in Toronto) recently crossed the border back to Canada to make debuts with Opéra de Montréal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 1 Comment

London Calling: Toronto Summer Music Begins

Posted on July 15, 2016 by barczablog

Tonight’s concert kicked off Douglas McNabney’s final season as artistic director of the Toronto Summer Music Festival. “London Calling: Music in Great Britain” is the theme of the festival. Mother Nature even got into the act, offering us a proper … Continue reading →

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A new Jussi Björling recording, 57 years later

Posted on July 2, 2016 by barczablog

The headline isn’t a mistake nor a figure of speech. Swedish tenor Jussi Björling is one of my favourite singers.  As a child, it was his recordings of the great arias and duets that I usually encountered first, often spoiling … Continue reading →

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Aida by Request

Posted on June 26, 2016 by barczablog

I am doing something I’m not supposed to do.  I went to a concert more or less having made up my mind what I was going to say before the first note sounded.  It’s not because I’m prejudiced and lacking … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Leave a comment

Lydia Perović’s All That Sang

Posted on June 24, 2016 by barczablog

Perhaps art is really a proposition. I’m not sure there’s much difference between the approaches we make to one another in our discourse or our intercourse, particularly when so many of the words we use for one, apply to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature | 1 Comment

Gourmet Schnitzel House: look eastward, Toronto

Posted on June 22, 2016 by barczablog

I don’t want to provoke an argument, particularly not one of those regional disputes where someone tries to suggest one place is better than another. Toronto is a city full of neighbourhoods, ethnicities, communities, and nothing stands still because it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition | Leave a comment