Author Archives: barczablog

TSO Stage Mozart Requiem

Posted on January 24, 2016 by barczablog

We were all invested with a sense of community. As I sat making notes afterwards, Joseph Johnson’s solo cello kept playing away, as though he didn’t want to go home. I think it’s fair to say that so far Jeff … Continue reading →

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Ephemerality seeks eternity

Posted on January 23, 2016 by barczablog

It’s early morning: after having seen a workshop of The Harvester last night before seeing Joel Ivany’s take on the Mozart Requiem with the Toronto Symphony tonight I just re-read what I wrote about the workshop last April to which … Continue reading →

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The Harvester: an operatic workshop

Posted on January 23, 2016 by barczablog

The Harvester is a play by Paul van Dyck, identified as an intriguing story for adaptation into an opera by soprano Stacie Dunlop, who was looking for a new piece to share the bill with Erwartung (a work she was … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera | 2 Comments

La bonne chanson @ RBA

Posted on January 21, 2016 by barczablog

Today’s noon-hour concert at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre was the first collaboration between the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio and the COC Orchestra Academy.  As I so often do I’ll begin with a preamble, one that corresponds to the gap … Continue reading →

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Questions for Johannes Debus: busy baton

Posted on January 21, 2016 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company’s winter season begins soon, featuring two long operas led by the same maestro, namely Johannes Debus. Siegfried, the penultimate of the Wagner operas in the Ring Cycle premieres January 23rd, while Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro follows … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Goldhamer’s Schubert: where the music is

Posted on January 18, 2016 by barczablog

Where do you look during a concert? One can look out the window, as i often do when given the opportunity.  I love the glass at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, or the glorious view at the Conservatory Theatre (seen below) … Continue reading →

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Labadie returns with TSO – Mozart @260

Posted on January 17, 2016 by barczablog

Conductor Bernard Labadie returned to the podium tonight for the first time since sickness stopped him for a year and a half of convalescence, to lead the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall as part of the Mozart @ … Continue reading →

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Amy’s Requiem, in the season of mourning

Posted on January 16, 2016 by barczablog

Ahead? the return of Bernard Labadie, who was sick and is getting better. Saturday he’ll conduct the first of the Mozart @ 260 concerts with the TSO, next week conducting their adventurous staging of the Mozart Requiem. Behind? A week … Continue reading →

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At last: #COC1617 is the most Canadian season yet 

Posted on January 14, 2016 by barczablog

Tonight’s Canadian Opera Company announcement of the coming season’s operas gave us reason to be proud, a genuine celebration of the sesquicentennial of Canada’s confederation. We checked in with the key components of the COC: Alexander Neef & Johannes Debus … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | 4 Comments

TSO Announcement: good days for Canadian composers

Posted on January 12, 2016 by barczablog

The official announcements are still to come.  It’s a great year, or will be a great year to be Canadian, as we celebrate 150 years of Confederation in 2017. Anticipation is a big part of the fun. On Wednesday the … Continue reading →

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