Author Archives: barczablog

Reinhardt’s first and last film

Posted on September 25, 2011 by barczablog

The 1935 Warner Brothers A Midsummernight’s Dream (AMSD) directed by Max Reinhardt, is one of my favourite films.  This week I will once again get the pleasure of including it in my film music course. If wishes were horses beggars … Continue reading →

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Carsen’s Iphigenia

Posted on September 23, 2011 by barczablog

Robert Carsen has once again held up a mirror to an opera by Gluck with the help of the Canadian Opera Company.  Last season it was an award winning production of Orfeo ed Euridice.  Tonight I saw Iphigenie en Tauride, … Continue reading →

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Glass’ Film Music

Posted on September 18, 2011 by barczablog

I heard  “The Film Music of Philip Glass,“  a concert last night by the  Manitoba Chamber Orchestra at the intimate Glenn Gould Studio conducted by Anne Manson with Michael Riesman, piano soloist.  The concert was recorded for a CD that … Continue reading →

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This is how the world ends

Posted on September 16, 2011 by barczablog

I saw The Turin Horse directed by Béla Tarr at the Toronto International Film Festival. Tarr says it’s his last film.  This is no warm farewell like Fanny & Alexander(Ingmar Bergman’s last film) or The Tempest (Shakespeare’s last play).  It’s … Continue reading →

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Louÿs the poet

Posted on September 10, 2011 by barczablog

I am following up yesterday’s post on Aphrodite and Mary Garden because of something I found via Google books.  I made an assertion yesterday off the top of my head; upon further reflection i realized i had no idea, but … Continue reading →

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Fleeting fame

Posted on September 9, 2011 by barczablog

I held a piece of history in my hands. And then after keeping it a few days overdue, I returned it to the library. I am speaking of a score for an opera signed by its composer.  The opera?  Aphrodite, … Continue reading →

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The roots of sustainability

Posted on September 2, 2011 by barczablog

This is a continuation of my previous post, inspired by Hurricane Irene and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.  I’d lamented the loss of innocence that’s implied by the notion of global warming: that we can’t very well think of Nature as our … Continue reading →

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A dark and stormy night

Posted on August 28, 2011 by barczablog

Every now and then I notice that a beloved piece of music has fallen out of my personal  top ten.  It may be because I’ve listened too often, or because some other piece has grabbed my affections.  But something very … Continue reading →

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Mostly Frenchmen

Posted on August 24, 2011 by barczablog

I am so lucky that I made it to Lincoln Center in New York City this week for the big summer music festival, when Mostly Mozart Festival is admittedly mostly over. This is a festival probing interesting connections and juxtapositions … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Simone Osborne

Posted on August 20, 2011 by barczablog

Simone Osborne  will be taking the lead role of Gilda in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto in September 2011.  I ask her ten questions: five about her and five about her upcoming role. 1) Which … Continue reading →

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