Author Archives: barczablog

COC casting change announcement

Posted on May 8, 2014 by barczablog

“Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment CASTING CHANGE FOR CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY’S ROBERTO DEVEREUX  Toronto – The Canadian Opera Company regrets to announce that Italian tenor Giuseppe Filianoti will not be returning to the company’s production of … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

The Tempest Replica: Icing and Cake

Posted on May 8, 2014 by barczablog

Tonight Toronto got another look at Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite’s company from out west.  While this may be new to us, it’s not really new.  Just as Dark Matters –brought to Toronto by Canadian Stage back in 2012— was already … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Ernesto Ramirez to sing Roberto Devereux

Posted on May 7, 2014 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company scheduled seven performances of Roberto Devereux.  The COCassigned the first three performances to Leonardo Capalbo in the title role, and he did a marvelous job from what i saw & heard. Giuseppe Filianoti was scheduled to … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Synesthesia III

Posted on May 4, 2014 by barczablog

Synesthesia III was a collaboration initiated by FAWN Opera, who reached out to The Seventh Art.  We saw a series of films with –mostly– live original music.  FAWN found the composers & organized the –mostly–live performance, while The Seventh Art … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Media circus 1: Star lover

Posted on May 2, 2014 by barczablog

While newspapers seem to be going under left & right, Toronto continues to be a multi-paper town.   Loyalties to a particular paper are funny things, or at least they look that way now.  However you slice it –changing media landscape, … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular music & culture | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Amanda Smith

Posted on May 1, 2014 by barczablog

Amanda Smith is Artistic Director & Resident Stage Director of FAWN Opera, a new company I’ve recently seen for the first time.  In the middle of April they presented l’Homme et le Ciel a new opera in progress (review).  Her … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Back for More Moore, Bacon (and Brandt)

Posted on April 29, 2014 by barczablog

Today I revisited the AGO show “Francis Bacon Henry Moore Terror and Beauty” (or FBHM for short) that I wrote about at the beginning of April.  I’m on holiday today even if it’s a rainy spring day.  I saw the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

Perfecting Persée

Posted on April 28, 2014 by barczablog

This morning I wondered, hm will I have anything to say?  This is Opera Atelier’s third Persée this millennium.  And now I have so much to say that I’ll probably have to split it into at least two separate posts.  … Continue reading →

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10 questions for Margarete von Vaight

Posted on April 26, 2014 by barczablog

Serendipity is a funny thing. A few days ago Canadian heldentenor Ben Heppner announced his retirement from singing after one of the most extraordinary careers.  At the exact same time, I’ve been talking to Canadian soprano Margarete von Vaight, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged | 7 Comments

Radvanovsky’s Theatrical Elizabeth

Posted on April 26, 2014 by barczablog

The opera is called Roberto Devereux but don’t let that throw you.  The reason we’re there, the reason to see the Canadian Opera Company production of that aforementioned opera is for another character, namely Elisabetta, aka Queen Elizabeth. It’s a … Continue reading →

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