Author Archives: barczablog

Postcard from Morocco

Posted on March 15, 2015 by barczablog

If identity is performative, a mere construct that we enact, the demonstration of such notions would be wonderful material for the theatre.  And so it is when we come to Dominick Argento’s 1971 opera Postcard from Morocco, currently on offer … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews, University life | 1 Comment

Toronto Symphony hospitable to Noseda and Pieczonka

Posted on March 13, 2015 by barczablog

It was a rare performance by the Toronto Symphony tonight, inspired by guest conductor Gianandrea Noseda and the presence of soprano Adrianne Pieczonka. I can’t recall the last time they played with so much commitment, going back over decades of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 6 Comments

Gleeful Purcell: hypothetical & unpretentious

Posted on March 7, 2015 by barczablog

Dido forgive me, but I had such a good time. Tonight’s concert at Trinity St Paul’s Centre felt like an experimental combination of elements, and when I say that I mean it in a good way.  I like ambition, I … Continue reading →

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Ten Questions for Seán Dagher and Sylvain Bergeron

Posted on March 6, 2015 by barczablog

Sometimes the art that excites me takes a while to catch on with others.  This is among the most poignant aspects of culture.  Mainstream acceptance often seems to be reserved for that which is average, obvious, or just plain conservative, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Wedding Dress of Susanna for the Marriage of Figaro

Posted on March 5, 2015 by barczablog

Opera Lyra and McCaffrey Haute Couture invited the media to attend a fitting, a pre-wedding event in celebration of their new production of The Marriage of Figaro, opening March 21st at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Figaro marries Susanna.  They’re servants … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | 3 Comments

10 Questions for James Westman

Posted on March 2, 2015 by barczablog

I’ve been hearing the name of Baritone James Westman quite a lot, of late. He’s been in new operas such as Silent Night just this past November in Calgary, or Tovey’s The Inventor. He was soloist in Messiah with the New … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

TSO – A Mind of Winter

Posted on March 1, 2015 by barczablog

“A Mind of Winter” is the name of a composition as well as the title for tonight’s Toronto Symphony concert in their New Creations Festival, curated by composer George Benjamin and featuring the residency of singer & conductor Barbara Hannigan. … Continue reading →

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Soundstreams’ Whisper Opera and the meaning of meaning

Posted on February 28, 2015 by barczablog

It’s a cute phrase I heard in a Tom Robbins novel, as someone speaks in passing of “the meaning of meaning”. I love it because it simultaneously references our understanding (and what it means to mean) and yet sounds like … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Leslie Dala

Posted on February 26, 2015 by barczablog

Conductor Leslie Dala aka Les Dala is especially well-known out west, having conducted at the Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria and Vancouver Bach Choir, at Banff Centre and UBC Opera Ensemble.  In October 2014 he conducted Vancouver Opera’s world premiere … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera, University life | Leave a comment

Barbara Hannigan “dissolved in swirling sound… a spark of the holy fire”

Posted on February 25, 2015 by barczablog

The title of the movement is “Entrückung”, the text by Stefan George, the score to the String Quartet by Arnold Schoenberg, the concert part of the New Creations Festival curated by George Benjamin, a late-afternoon incarnation of the Canadian Opera … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment