Author Archives: barczablog

Lenten Casualties

Posted on March 20, 2020 by barczablog

It’s the most perfect Lenten season I have ever seen. For those of you who aren’t deeply into the Christian calendar, Lent is a 40 day period before holy week, corresponding to Jesus’s own meditations in preparation for his Crucifixion, … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

Beautiful day in the neighborhood and goodness

Posted on March 11, 2020 by barczablog

There are at least a couple of Mr Rogers films out there. There’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a 2018 documentary. And there’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the 2019 film based on an Esquire magazine interview by Tom … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TOT Pinafore

Posted on March 8, 2020 by barczablog

Last night’s HMS Pinafore from Toronto Operetta Theatre was a reminder of what they do best. For some works there is a kind of social contract at work, a simple plan that begins with the music and the words. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

James Rhodes & the Beethoven Revolution

Posted on March 6, 2020 by barczablog

Koerner Hall was jammed full tonight. Apparently everyone wants to hear James Rhodes play Beethoven. I’m late to the party, having no idea who this guy is, just intrigued by the interest I sense all around me, an electricity.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Leaning into the Unknowable @nationalballet

Posted on March 2, 2020 by barczablog

As I consider renewing my Canadian Opera Company subscription, it was worth having a look at the other company occupying the Four Seasons Centre. Watching the new program at the National Ballet of Canada was a great way to spend … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Truth in the Park

Posted on February 29, 2020 by barczablog

I saw A Nice Day in the Park, a new one-act play written, directed & starring Sky Gilbert, from Lunch-on-the-run productions presented at Chez BonBon. There’s another performance Saturday before they “take it on the road”, wherever that might be. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Traces of Raffaello: Marco Delogu Faces the Camera

Posted on February 28, 2020 by barczablog

The re-building of University of Toronto Schools gapes at me like an open wound as I walk up Huron St.  Today was my second visit to the show that’s at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Gallery, at 496 Huron Street, just … Continue reading →

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Mackay’s Indigo Project

Posted on February 28, 2020 by barczablog

Alison Mackay has a knack for making intriguing connections. Every now and then Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra turn to their former bass player to curate a concert, and tonight she may have done her best yet with The Indigo Project at … Continue reading →

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#popstarplay life lessons

Posted on February 22, 2020 by barczablog

I heard a wonderful interview with Vivek Shraya on Q earlier today that gave me some  clues as to what I’d be seeing and hearing tonight in her one-woman autobiographical show How to Fail as a Popstar, aka #popstarplay in … Continue reading →

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AF and why

Posted on February 21, 2020 by barczablog

Huge preamble coming. If you want to skip to the review itself, look under the photo.I went to see AF and am daring to review it. I feel I need to say this after having read Yvette Nolan’s piece, responding … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment