Author Archives: barczablog

Girl with Flaxen Hair goes to the opera

Posted on October 4, 2014 by barczablog

What’s the reality underlying the music? People write music & perform music, and the notes & phrases are parts of our day, parts of our lives. Last night I wanted to leave early to go to the opera. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | 2 Comments

Gerald Finley is Falstaff

Posted on October 4, 2014 by barczablog

Every time Gerald Finley takes on the role of Falstaff it means’ a two hour makeup ordeal .  Finley is like a classier version of Mike Myers’ “Fat Bastard”, and yet so much more. Falstaff? Yes he is Shakespeare’s fat man, a bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Paride ed Elena: birthday celebrations for Gluck & Essential Opera

Posted on September 28, 2014 by barczablog

Ambition is a good thing, especially from an opera company.  There will always be Bohemes and Carmens galore, but I especially love having the opportunity to see something new, as I did tonight in my encounter with Gluck’s Paride ed … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged | Leave a comment

Factory Theatre vs the critics

Posted on September 27, 2014 by barczablog

For the second consecutive year, Factory Theatre is in the news.  Last year it was the controversy around its leadership.   That’s ancient history now. This time it’s an announcement, that critics aren’t invited until the show has already been on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Popular music & culture | 2 Comments

Oundjian, TSO: Beethoven and Rachmaninoff

Posted on September 26, 2014 by barczablog

It’s been roughly a decade now that Peter Oundjian has been the Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a time of renewal if not rebirth for the ensemble & its audience.  If tonight’s concert is any indication they’re headed … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 4 Comments

They’re back: Ensemble Studio and COC concerts

Posted on September 24, 2014 by barczablog

The free noon-hour concerts at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre are back, and unfortunately, so’s the flu, as three of the young singers scheduled to sing today had to cancel. It ended up being six rather than nine arias, accompanied by … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Kelly Kaduce

Posted on September 20, 2014 by barczablog

I had the good luck to see Rusalka in Montreal in November 2011, starring Kelly Kaduce. In my review I said First and foremost, the production leans happily on soprano Kelly Kaduce, whose voice is always pleasant & in tune, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Waverley’s Aura and the Romance of Scotland

Posted on September 19, 2014 by barczablog

It’s the morning after.  The world is waking up from something. Was it a nightmare or a fantasy?  Scotland will not separate from the United Kingdom after all. This morning –knocked a bit senseless by a cold, sniff sniff cough … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ten questions for Eric Woolfe

Posted on September 18, 2014 by barczablog

While I sometimes aim to write the bio that goes into an interview, sometimes I can’t top the brilliance of what I’m given to work with. For instance, the origins of Eldritch Theatre are explained this way on their website: … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Baby Kintyre and some thoughts on popular operas

Posted on September 16, 2014 by barczablog

A few weeks ago, John Gilks shared some thoughts about “that elusive new audience”,  in response to assertions by some that the “ small innovative companies create a significant audience for the larger companies”.  It may be so, although John’s essay looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment