Author Archives: barczablog

Orville Doodles and the terrible imagination of Scott McClelland

Posted on August 14, 2024 by barczablog

Forgive me. The name of the show may be Orville Doodles and his Terrible Imagination but I couldn’t help thinking (as I ponder questions that I will pose to Orville’s creator), that Orville comes from the brain of Scott McClelland. … Continue reading →

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Edwin Huizinga: Songs and Serenades at Sweetwater Music Festival

Posted on August 14, 2024 by barczablog

Edwin Huizinga is one of those people doing many things in different places. I first encountered him as part of Tafelmusik. I heard Edwin’s original composition in Opera Atelier’s The Angel Speaks in 2019, when he played his baroque violin. … Continue reading →

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Recovering Romantic by Briane Nasimok

Posted on August 5, 2024 by barczablog

The concept of Recovering Romantic is simple. Whether or not we’re drinkers, we have all seen Alcoholics Anonymous in films and tv, that organization that gives addicts a place to find support on their journey back from rock bottom. AA … Continue reading →

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Beethoven Unleashed by TSM

Posted on August 2, 2024 by barczablog

Last night’s final 2024 Toronto Summer Music Festival concert at Koerner Hall, titled Beethoven Unleashed, featured the violin concerto and the Eroica Symphony, a perfect snapshot of TSM at its best.   TSM combines the educational objectives of an academy and a showcase … Continue reading →

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Dreams and Shadows at TSM

Posted on July 30, 2024 by barczablog

A good pre-concert introduction from the artist can make a big impact. Last night’s Toronto Summer Music Concert by pianist Philip Chiu with violinist & TSM artistic director Jonathan Crow at Walter Hall was sold out. Titled “Dreams and Shadows” … Continue reading →

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SOLT pedagogy

Posted on July 27, 2024 by barczablog

I attended the La Boheme to open Summer Opera Lyric Theatre’s summer season tonight at the Alumnae Theatre. Guillermo Silva-Marin called it a festival in his pre-show introductory talk. As you can see in the graphic, between now and next … Continue reading →

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Questioning Desperate Measures

Posted on July 7, 2024 by barczablog

Sometimes a theatre piece captures essential conflicts of modern life. If you read this excerpt from the press release for Desperate Measures you’ll see why I wanted to ask them some questions “What would you do for an extra stream … Continue reading →

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Gestures of Love – Hunters and Collectors: Evan Jones & Patrick DeCoste at The Drey Gallery

Posted on July 6, 2024 by barczablog

I just visited The Drey Gallery on Woodbine in East York, just north of Danforth. I was drawn by seeing Patrick DeCoste’s mention of the show on Facebook, plus the convenience of the location. I have friends and family living … Continue reading →

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The lessons of James Morris’s Wotan for this Canadian

Posted on July 1, 2024 by barczablog

It’s Canada Day. I live in Toronto and am a subscriber to the Canadian Opera Company. I was remembering examples I’ve seen south of the border at the Metropolitan Opera. Yes they import talent, bringing in Italians to sing Verdi … Continue reading →

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Mourning Donald Sutherland

Posted on June 22, 2024 by barczablog

I am another Canadian mourning the passing of Donald Sutherland. When celebrities pass we may sometimes feel the loss more keenly than would seem reasonable for a stranger. I never met him even though I saw many of his films. … Continue reading →

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