Author Archives: barczablog

Second time lucky

Posted on May 23, 2014 by barczablog

Presented with more or less identical performances on two different occasions, what is it exactly that can make one so different from the other? Where I whined & complained the first time, I had a wonderful experience seeing the Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

Media Circus 3: critical dinosaurs

Posted on May 22, 2014 by barczablog

In one tiny corner of the media circus, ignored by most of the audience, you’ll find a nerdy subculture, the opera lovers.  Yet many of the same influences inhere that you’d find anywhere else. And so I’ll speak of something … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 5 Comments

Les Adieux

Posted on May 21, 2014 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio had their annual noon-hour concert to commemorate the departure of some of their members, titled “Les Adieux”. The three performers? Michael Shannon, piano Cameron McPhail, baritone Sasha Djihanian, soprano For most of the concert … Continue reading →

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

Louis Riel

Posted on May 17, 2014 by barczablog

When I was young there was a phrase used so often that it became a cliché, something to be joked about. What exactly was the “Canadian identity”, and –other than hockey or maple syrup –what was Canadian culture? As far … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Media Circus 2: CBC

Posted on May 17, 2014 by barczablog

I am trying to be hopeful about the changes to the CBC. It’s been reported that over 600 jobs are being cut, that the network will reduce its sports department in the wake of the highly publicized loss of Hockey … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture | 3 Comments

Toonseum

Posted on May 16, 2014 by barczablog

What was it that he said again? Joe Wos could have been talking about the way we make them, or the way we perceive them. I think he said that cartoons both exaggerate and simplify. The funny thing is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design | Tagged , | Leave a comment

10 questions for Cameron McPhail

Posted on May 13, 2014 by barczablog

All good things must come to an end.  Brandon, Manitoba native Cameron McPhail has been a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals. Recent COC appearances include Schaunard in La Bohème, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Penalty balks

Posted on May 13, 2014 by barczablog

We often hear about the beauty of sports, that soccer –aka “football” to most of the world– is “the beautiful game”.  The aesthetic pleasures found in sports vary of course.  Winning really helps, don’t you find? When you lose, things … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | 4 Comments

10 Questions for Ann Cooper Gay

Posted on May 12, 2014 by barczablog

Every now and then I get the opportunity to interview one of the key figures in the Canadian opera scene, people such as Stuart Hamilton or Marshall Pynkoski.  Ann Cooper Gay is another such figure.  I’ve known Ann a very … Continue reading →

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

Questions of identity

Posted on May 11, 2014 by barczablog

Do you know who you are? Today’s performance of the Canadian Opera company production of Roberto Devereux  at the Four Seasons Centre seemed like an investigation of identity. For one thing, there’s the opera’s plot, which concerns Elizabeth I and … Continue reading →

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