Author Archives: barczablog

Spaceman is lightyears away from Operaman

Posted on April 24, 2024 by barczablog

After a friend described Spaceman as Adam Sandler’s best film I had to have a look, especially given that nobody I know takes Sandler seriously, and quite a few grimace at the mention of his name. I recently quoted CS … Continue reading →

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Seraphia closing April 27th

Posted on April 19, 2024 by barczablog

I got some bad news today, when Peter at Seraphia informed me that he will have his last day Saturday April 27th. I can’t properly capture what his Scarborough gourmet shop has meant to me and my family. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

My Little Brony: The Musical

Posted on April 11, 2024 by barczablog

It’s the morning after seeing My Little Brony: The Musical. The music was great, and we laughed a lot. It’s a delightfully enjoyable play. I went into it thinking about reviews and critics, wondering how I would approach a new … Continue reading →

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Gimeno and Moussa: Ligeti, Wagner and Strauss’s Don Quixote

Posted on April 5, 2024 by barczablog

Last night’s brilliant concert at Roy Thomson Hall from the Toronto Symphony was improved by the introductory remarks from Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, explaining his unorthodox choices. The concert may have been titled “R Strauss’s Don Quixote” but Gimeno explained … Continue reading →

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Violinissimo II calibrating Esprit at Koerner

Posted on March 29, 2024 by barczablog

Thursday March 28th Esprit Orchestra led by their artistic director and conductor Alex Pauk presented Violinissimo II at Koerner Hall. The program leant heavily on soloist Mark Fewer in a pair of big works, playing solos for over an hour … Continue reading →

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Korngold’s other film-score

Posted on March 26, 2024 by barczablog

On April 7th the ARC Ensemble present a concert “The Viennese in Los Angeles”, a happier title than what they might choose to call it, from composers in exile.  In the promotion for the event we’re told that for the … Continue reading →

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Jerskin Fendrix scores Poor Things

Posted on March 18, 2024 by barczablog

Every year in the aftermath of the Academy Awards I’m left wondering how they do it. Yes I should be in awe of the creations: but I was speaking of the awards process. Why this film and not that one? and … Continue reading →

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Finding out about Maghan McPhee, soprano

Posted on March 13, 2024 by barczablog

Sometimes interviews are just a series of obvious questions designed to publicize an artist and their work. I’m happy to play that game. But there are times when I’ve been fascinated by what I’ve seen from an artist, my curiosity … Continue reading →

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John Holland’s unexpected polemic in The Lost Tradition of Dvořák’s Operas

Posted on February 29, 2024 by barczablog

When I started reading John Holland’s new book, I didn’t expect it to be more than a study of a composer and his operas. That modest goal would already be significant, considering the cognitive dissonance I feel whenever the plural … Continue reading →

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Robbie Robertson’s Killers of the Flower Moon

Posted on February 26, 2024 by barczablog

I watched the last hour of Killers of the Flower Moon today. I had heard terrible things about the violence in this film, although the same was true of Taxi Driver, another Martin Scorsese film with a brilliant orchestral score … Continue reading →

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