Author Archives: barczablog

Dumb luck at the EJB

Posted on October 5, 2017 by barczablog

I found something marvelous and don’t deserve any credit for the discovery. That’s why I say “dumb luck.” We’ve just had the verismo class in the opera course I teach at School of Continuing Studies here at University of Toronto. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

TSO, Reineke and Williams

Posted on October 4, 2017 by barczablog

Roy Thomson Hall was jammed tonight, fans of every age including parents & their children. The programme presented by the Toronto Symphony was a small sampling of the film music of John Williams. There’s no mistaking the interest. In 2016 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology | Leave a comment

What Happened: deja vu

Posted on September 30, 2017 by barczablog

As I’ve been reading Hillary Clinton’s What Happened, her bestselling memoir, I experienced a curious and disturbing feeling. That I’d been here before. That I had felt these feelings not so long ago, concerning events here in Canada.  I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Politics | Leave a comment

A Joyous Welcome for Elisa Citterio

Posted on September 27, 2017 by barczablog

I’ve been on vacation for the past few weeks, taking a break from blogging. I had to miss some marvelous concerts last week such as Mychael Danna’s new piece with the TSO and Elisa Citterio’s debut as the new Music … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Inter-textual Strauss

Posted on September 4, 2017 by barczablog

Composer Richard Strauss often dropped subtle references to other works into his scores. We’re accustomed to this in poetry, drama or film, where a quote can add depths to our experience, but it’s especially powerful when we recall how abstract … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera | Leave a comment

An Arabella DVD

Posted on August 29, 2017 by barczablog

Every year as I prepare to teach the Most Popular Operas course at University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies, I have to adjust the course to include the current season’s repertoire. Fall is in the air, as the nights … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | 3 Comments

Beethoven’s five minute sermon

Posted on August 20, 2017 by barczablog

Nothing changes your perspective on a piece of music like repurposing it. The new context may strain the original to its breaking point. A happy tune works well at a party, perhaps not so well at a funeral. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | 2 Comments

World Premiere of  Bandits in the Valley

Posted on August 15, 2017 by barczablog

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2017 Tapestry Opera Presents the World Premiere of  Bandits in the Valley at Toronto’s Historic Todmorden Mills -A free, all-ages opera for the community, weekends in September- TORONTO, ON: Canada’s leading contemporary opera company, Tapestry Opera, in conjunction with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

Syrinx: The way the future used to sound

Posted on August 15, 2017 by barczablog

One can’t write objectively about friends, especially when those old friends are beloved pieces of music. I’m very fortunate to get all sorts of wonderful recordings through the mail.  One of the best things about the summertime, when there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Popular music & culture | 4 Comments

The Ethics of Sweat 

Posted on August 6, 2017 by barczablog

Sweat is the name of the opera produced this summer by The Bicycle Opera Project. The name seems like a natural for a company who pull opera around the country behind their cycles, even if tonight was an unseasonably cool … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 4 Comments