Author Archives: barczablog

Adès Conversations

Posted on April 7, 2013 by barczablog

I am thinking a lot about the nature of criticism.  On a recent trip I sat on the airplane reading a fascinating book that’s called Conversations with Tom Service.  How fascinating could such a book be? Ah but it’s a … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Nina Lee Aquino

Posted on April 6, 2013 by barczablog

Nina Lee Aquino is in demand, as director, dramaturge and playwright.  She was a founding member of fu-Gen Asian Canadian Theatre, where she just finished directing their production of Lauren Yee’s Ching Chong Chinaman (review).  Aquino has recently been the … Continue reading →

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Coming of Age Stories

Posted on April 5, 2013 by barczablog

With the passage of time, people get older.  The battles that consumed them in their youth are set aside, as they seek stability and begin to contemplate their legacy.  In that gradual coming into focus, frivolity falls by the wayside … Continue reading →

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Late Mozart 2: caveats

Posted on April 4, 2013 by barczablog

Mozart censored? Operas did sometimes have to clear hurdles in the century of their creation, but actually I was thinking about the censure of a modern audience. And so I continue to ramble about late Mozart, inspired by a happy … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Stuart Hamilton

Posted on April 3, 2013 by barczablog

In the review I posted in March of Stuart Hamilton’s memoir Open Windows, I said that no one has been involved in more aspects of Canadian operatic performance than Stuart Hamilton. Born in Regina, Hamilton, the young pianist chose to … Continue reading →

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Late Mozart 1: The Good

Posted on April 2, 2013 by barczablog

Toronto is a great town for musical connections.  If you go to enough concerts you’ll have a chance to explore inter-connected compositions & composers, to discover relationships and references. Not so long ago I had the pleasure of hearing Tafelmusik’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

Metro Youth Opera

Posted on April 1, 2013 by barczablog

Recently I’ve been fortunate to encounter small opera ensembles in the Toronto area   particularly those that showcase young talent.  Just a few days ago I wrote about the Soupcan Theatre’s program, and I interviewed the founder of Summer Opera Lyric … Continue reading →

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Philip Glass’s The Perfect American

Posted on March 31, 2013 by barczablog

Philip Glass’s new opera The Perfect American is still available for viewing, free on medici.tv.  The world premiere production was presented by Teatro Real in Madrid. As always I am willing to go the extra mile as a viewer and advocate … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Guillermo Silva-Marin

Posted on March 29, 2013 by barczablog

The most influential man on the Toronto opera scene?  That would be Guillermo Silva-Marin.  His biographer and collaborator Henry Ingram put it this way: Singer, teacher, director, producer, impresario, musician…each of these words describes Guillermo Silva-Marin and sometimes he is … Continue reading →

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Matched set

Posted on March 28, 2013 by barczablog

It’s the most curious symmetry. Soup Can Theatre have paired Samuel Barber’s brief opera A Hand Of Bridge with Jean Paul Sartre’s play No Exit.  The opera is ten minutes, while the play is roughly one hundred minutes. Symmetry? But … Continue reading →

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