Author Archives: barczablog

Dogies and tummies

Posted on May 28, 2021 by barczablog

I’m no cowboy. This probably won’t be news to you, but I wanted to state it up front. The first word in the headline may resemble a typo, if you assume I meant “doggies”. No I meant it the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Music and musicology, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Melisande and Sam

Posted on May 28, 2021 by barczablog

The picture is a bit of whimsy, Sam seeming to float with the flower. If you don’t have your glasses on (hello! That was how I took the photo), the alignment of dog + flower is much easier to do, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Art, Architecture & Design, Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Mom taught me

Posted on May 28, 2021 by barczablog

I’m very lucky that my mother is still alive, an amazing example. My dad passed away when I was very young, so my family is matriarchal, lucky for us. I only have 3 or 4 solid memories of my father. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, My mother, Popular music & culture, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

American Idolatry

Posted on May 26, 2021 by barczablog

The finale of 2021’s American Idol competition this past weekend is a curious reflection of popular culture, a snapshot of our world. There were three finalists: Grace Kinstler sang covers, sometimes emulating stars such as Whitney Houston with her powerful … Continue reading →

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ZUMI Legends

Posted on May 26, 2021 by barczablog

I’ve been listening to the ten Dvorak Legends played by ZUMI Piano Duo. “ZUMI” comes from the two players. Zuzana & Mikolaj, or ZU + MI = ZUMI. Pianist Mikolaj Warszynski caught my attention with a pair of recordings, both … Continue reading →

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Karel Ančerl of the Toronto Symphony

Posted on May 17, 2021 by barczablog

While reading Hermione Lee’s account of Tom Stoppard’s childhood in Czechoslovakia I was reminded of Karel Ančerl, the Toronto Symphony’s conductor and music-director roughly fifty years ago. Before Kenneth Stoppard appears on the scene in Darjeeling India, marries Magda Sträussler, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hermione Lee: Tom Stoppard A Life

Posted on May 16, 2021 by barczablog

I’m humbled reading Hermione Lee’s biography of Tom Stoppard. I was exalted by Alex Ross’s colossal Wagnerism study because I’m a typical grandiose Wagnerian, thinking I know something about the topic. Its 784 pages flew by, the book flattering my … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Perryn Leech comes to the COC

Posted on April 28, 2021 by barczablog

I am disoriented. The end of April? Time for taxes, to plant & nurture the garden. And to renew my subscription to the Canadian Opera Company before the end of the month. But it’s so weird. Normally their new season … Continue reading →

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American Idol and popularity

Posted on April 13, 2021 by barczablog

Do you ever watch American Idol? I’d say it’s the best reality tv that you can find, unless you prefer one of the other performance shows where people sing or dance. There are really two parts to it. At the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quilico and Pavarotti in Rigoletto

Posted on April 12, 2021 by barczablog

The Metropolitan Opera’s free feed gave us a lovely trip down memory lane last week, with a 1981 Rigoletto starring Louis Quilico, Luciano Pavarotti and Christiane Eda-Pierre. I can’t be the only one who watched, remembering the times Quilico sang … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments