Author Archives: barczablog

Sympathy for the Bedevilled

Posted on May 26, 2013 by barczablog

It’s an odd week.  Since seeing the COC production of Dialogues des Carmelites I have the “Salve Regina” in my head, particularly the last two pages of the score, where Blanche appears.  I also hear the complementary sonorities of Ravel’s … Continue reading →

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

Carsen Dialogues

Posted on May 24, 2013 by barczablog

I like to read a director’s notes before seeing a show, because they often contain clues about what you’re going to see. Robert Carsen’s take on Dialogues des Carmelites is a case in point. The production has been mounted all … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

Wagner and the animals

Posted on May 23, 2013 by barczablog

Don’t mistake me for an apologist for  Richard Wagner.  I am merely seeking balance. It’s the birthday of Wagner: the composer, the dramaturg, the musician, the pamphleteer, the communist, the racist… Yes, all of those and more. Was he also perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Wagnerian Bicentennial

Posted on May 22, 2013 by barczablog

We’ve come to the first of the three important opera composer birthdays in 2013. May 22:  Richard Wagner’s bicentennial October 10:  Giuseppe Verdi’s bicentennial November 22: Benjamin Britten’s centennial You may prefer Britten’s operas. You may point to the box … Continue reading →

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Brian Wyers: artist at work

Posted on May 21, 2013 by barczablog

It’s Victoria Day long weekend. Fireworks are exploding in my neighbourhood as I type this. It’s not fair to call it the Canadian equivalent to the 4th of July, as there’s no particular patriotism, no national myth underlying the date, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged | 3 Comments

Book of Dialogues

Posted on May 14, 2013 by barczablog

Momento #1 of that production I haven’t yet seen was the DVD.  I reviewed it a few weeks ago, fascinated to see Robert Carsen’s take on Poulenc’s opera Dialogues des Carmelites in its La Scala incarnation from 2004. I stumbled … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | Tagged | 2 Comments

Figaro’s Wedding

Posted on May 14, 2013 by barczablog

“Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 14, 2013 Against the Grain Theatre puts new spin on Mozart classic with Figaro’s Wedding TORONTO (May 14, 2013) — Against the Grain Theatre (AtG), the daring … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Nancy Hitzig

Posted on May 12, 2013 by barczablog

Opera, theatre and the live arts are Nancy Hitzig’s passion, and she leads an active cultural life in pursuit of new opportunities to experience and explore the best Toronto has to offer. A dedicated and tireless arts community “connector”, Nancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Visions: not saying “no”

Posted on May 10, 2013 by barczablog

I’ve been listening to a CD of piano music, contemplating the word “no”.   It may seem like an odd combination, a strange segue. Why would I wonder about the word “no”? I’ve been thinking a lot about how people make … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A reception experiment: Lucia last night

Posted on May 10, 2013 by barczablog

I remember from Psych 100 that one of the ways scientists learned about the brain was from what they called natural experiments.  In the war, sometimes a man would suffer a catastrophic wound to part of his head, allowing scientists … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Psychology and perception, Reviews | 2 Comments