Author Archives: barczablog

Feral piano: Beatriz Boizán

Posted on October 19, 2013 by barczablog

It’s a truism that some artists are different in live situations than on record.  The presence of an audience can inspire & illuminate a performance in a way that doesn’t happen in a studio. That’s what I experienced tonight.  When … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

COC Peter Grimes

Posted on October 18, 2013 by barczablog

Tonight I saw the Canadian Opera Company production of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes.  I’m late getting to the party for a production that opened on October 5th, but I was out of town that weekend.  Regular readers of newspaper reviews … Continue reading →

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

New Music Concerts: David Eagle and the Art of Interactive Electronics

Posted on October 15, 2013 by barczablog

  “Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment. David Eagle and the Art of Interactive Electronics Friday, November 1 at 8PM at Betty Oliphant Theatre Traditional instruments make music with computers, iPhone and Kinect sensor For Immediate Release … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Ileana Montalbetti

Posted on October 14, 2013 by barczablog

Canadian soprano Ileana Montalbetti has been one of the standouts in the new Canadian Opera Company production of Peter Grimes.  The Toronto Star’s review, for instance says “when we start to consider Ileana Montalbetti’s saintly Ellen Orford, we are in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

10 Questions for Cecilia Livingston

Posted on October 14, 2013 by barczablog

Known across Canada and the US for her vocal music, Cecilia Livingston is deeply involved in Toronto’s choral and opera communities, with a special focus on writing music for women’s voices. She looks forward to projects in 2014-2015 in collaboration … Continue reading →

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

Symbolist horror

Posted on October 12, 2013 by barczablog

What’s in a name? Sometimes we grab onto something in a name, think we know what we have, and miss something else through our assumptions.  We’re so enamoured for instance with the mystique of the rose, but we don’t usually … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten Questions for Marshall Pynkoski

Posted on October 10, 2013 by barczablog

Marshall Pynkoski is one of Toronto’s greatest artists, even if he has been completely misunderstood.  Since its inception in 1985, Opera Atelier has been a kind of lightning rod in Toronto for the conversation about historically informed performance.  With co-artistic … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Cloudy with a chance of symbolism

Posted on October 10, 2013 by barczablog

It’s such a silly title that i couldn’t resist having some fun with it. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is the best children’s film I’ve seen in a very long time, one of those films full of lines & … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Beatriz Boizan

Posted on October 8, 2013 by barczablog

Considered “One of the brightest new lights in the classical world” (The Vancouver Sun), pianist Beatriz Boizán is admired for her vibrant personality, charismatic stage presence, unique musicianship and innate talent to deliver breathtakingly authentic innovative performances of Spanish and … Continue reading →

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

The Light in the Piazza

Posted on October 6, 2013 by barczablog

Out of town post #2 Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably were the reason I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but  once there I jumped at the chance to see the show I was most curious about at this year’s Shaw Festival, namely … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 4 Comments