Author Archives: barczablog

Berlioz, Wagner, love

Posted on February 11, 2013 by barczablog

January 16th I promised to explore connections between Berlioz’s Les Troyens (an opera I’d been obsessing over) to Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, currently sharing the Canadian Opera Company stage with Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.  When music stays inside your … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Franz-Josef Selig

Posted on February 9, 2013 by barczablog

German bass Franz-Josef Selig is making his Canadian Opera Company debut as King Marke in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. Selig has performed at the world’s great opera houses including the Met, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, … Continue reading →

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Ending on a High Note: Queen of Puddings

Posted on February 8, 2013 by barczablog

 “Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment. ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE For Immediate Release – Toronto, February 8, 2013: After twenty years of developing and producing new Canadian chamber opera, Toronto’s Queen of Puddings Music Theatre will … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | 2 Comments

Psychological portraits: Tito’s Rome

Posted on February 7, 2013 by barczablog

La Clemenza di Tito is not known the way the major operas of Mozart’s maturity are known and loved.  When I say Don Giovanni or Marriage of Figaro or Magic Flute there are tunes that instantly pop into my head … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Opera, Politics, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Inclemenza

Posted on February 7, 2013 by barczablog

We’re expecting snow here in Toronto, but it’s already somewhat inclement, if we think chilly or unmerciful. I am expanding on the experience of La Clemenza di Tito Sunday in Toronto.  I was enraptured, as were the audience: until the … Continue reading →

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Opera Atelier: 2013-2014 Season Announcement

Posted on February 6, 2013 by barczablog

 “Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment. OPERA ATELIER 2013-2014 season features the return of two jewels in Opera Atelier’s crown – Plus an engagement at the Palace of Versailles,France – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2013 (Toronto, … Continue reading →

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Clemenza: Apollo’s Turn

Posted on February 4, 2013 by barczablog

After a week of thinking about Tristan und Isolde –at the COC, in the Opera Exchange, at the piano and rattling around inside my head—I was ready for something different.  Tristan is many things.  It’s humongous, it’s conceptual & symbolic, … Continue reading →

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Wagner and Adaptation: Linda’s Legacy

Posted on February 2, 2013 by barczablog

I use surnames in this blog.  Everyone calls him “Topher”, but when I wrote about him it was “Mokrzewski”.  Some aspects of the naming convention are absurdly obvious.  We call RW and RS “Wagner” and “Strauss not “Richard” and “Richard”, … Continue reading →

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

Actors! at Winchester Kitchen

Posted on February 2, 2013 by barczablog

The show is Actors! Canadian Actors Up Close and Personal, and before I go any further I need to say that it’s not a show in the usual sense.  I hate telling you too much because I’d be stealing some … Continue reading →

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Esprit : Stars, Suns, Sacre

Posted on February 1, 2013 by barczablog

There were three items on the Esprit Orchestra program tonight in Koerner Hall, interconnected by the laws of physics. The center-piece was a performance of a reduced version of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps on the occasion of its centennial.  … Continue reading →

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