Author Archives: barczablog

Dublin Messiah

Posted on December 18, 2011 by barczablog

The second annual Dublin Messiah presented by Aradia Ensemble was not sold out.  I wish I could comfort Aradia conductor & Artistic Director Kevin Mallon, considering that the competition — Toronto Symphony who are 90 years old, and Tafelmusik more … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bed and Breakfast

Posted on December 18, 2011 by barczablog

While the audience for Puppetmongers’ Bed & Breakfast includes children, the play contains plenty of adult laughs of which the kids are blissfully unaware.  Originally a one-person show written by and for Ann Powell (if it’s accurate to call something … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Messiah

Posted on December 13, 2011 by barczablog

If it’s Advent season–the time immediately preceding Christmas–then it’s time for ballet companies to erase their deficits with the help of Tschaikowsky and The Nutcracker.   It’s time to shop for presents, time to eat drink and be merry. And –in … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyers subjectivities

Posted on December 10, 2011 by barczablog

I posted a piece about painter Brian Wyers November 29th, and knew I’d have more to say.  This is a continuation. I am again fascinated by a Wyers painting that’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  Perhaps painters or art-critics would … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Essays | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

10 Questions for Kevin Mallon

Posted on December 3, 2011 by barczablog

Kevin Mallon is the Artistic Director of Aradia Ensemble;  he will be conducting The Dublin Messiah December 17th at the Glenn Gould Studio. I ask Mallon ten questions: five about himself and five about his work. 1) Which of your … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Boheme Against the Grain again

Posted on December 2, 2011 by barczablog

You can only be shocked that way once. When I attended the opening night of Against the Grain’s La bohème in June, it was thrilling to experience a modern adaptation of this well-worn opera in a downtown Toronto bar, in … Continue reading →

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

10 Questions for Christopher Mokrzewski

Posted on November 29, 2011 by barczablog

Canadian pianist Christopher (“Topher”) Mokrzewski is a former member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, participant in the preparation for COC’s recent Rigoletto and Opera Atelier’s 2011 La clemenza di Tito. But he’s also an accomplished soloist & chamber … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Brian Wyers

Posted on November 29, 2011 by barczablog

I’m going a bit outside my usual comfort zone with this one.  I’m a composer & keyboardist, a scholar in opera, theatre, film-music, literature.  In grade six they already knew I couldn’t paint or draw. Thank God for computers, because … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Essays | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

John & Michael: Together Again

Posted on November 23, 2011 by barczablog

[Sentimentality advisory] One of my favourite movies is the 1988 Terry Gilliam film The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (or ABM for short).  It features wonderful work from Eric Idle, an uncredited appearance by Robin Williams (“Ray de Tutto” which makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rusalka in Montréal

Posted on November 21, 2011 by barczablog

I was fortunate to see Rusalka in its final performance November 19th.at Opéra de Montréal, a co-production of Minnesota Opera & Boston Lyric Opera originally directed by Eric Simonson, remounted on this occasion by Bill Murray. The production had at … Continue reading →

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