Author Archives: barczablog

Questions for Michael Rose: premiering A Northern Lights Dream with SOLT

Posted on July 12, 2017 by barczablog

Michael Rose is a familiar figure in the Toronto opera scene, a pianist, music-director & coach. On July 28th Summer Opera Lyric Theatre (SOLT) will be giving the world premiere of his first completed opera,  A Northern Lights Dream presented … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 1 Comment

Irresistible Flea

Posted on July 7, 2017 by barczablog

I am usually drawn to Fringe shows either by the material or by the personnel in the show, so I couldn’t miss Pulse Theatre’s production of Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear. It’s directed by Aleksandar Sasha Lukac, a director … Continue reading →

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

Going down to the sea with La Nef and Seán Dagher

Posted on July 5, 2017 by barczablog

As soon as I heard of Sea Songs & Shanties, a new recording by La Nef and Seán Dagher from ATMA, I eagerly obtained it because I had a good idea what I’d find: Musicianship Authenticity Passion And I haven’t been … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular music & culture | 3 Comments

Intense Bluffing in Scarborough

Posted on June 29, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight was a public hearing, a chance to see what the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority will do with the waterfront in Scarborough over the next few years, and an opportunity for the TRCA to get the feedback of community members, … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Sports | Leave a comment

Oundjian’s Carmina Burana with TSO

Posted on June 25, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight’s concert brings us to the end of the Toronto Symphony season, and of their Decades Project, an exploration of music & art led by Peter Oundjian.  There’s an additional poignancy when we notice that the TSO’s Oundjian decade and … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Dame Ethel Smyth: Suffragette

Posted on June 24, 2017 by barczablog

I’ve seen two operas by Dame Ethel Smyth presented tonight by Opera 5 under the heading “Suffragette”. The title feels especially apt for a composer I’d never encountered before, who was not only active in seeking the vote for women … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

#Odysseo in Mississauga: Celebrating what it is to be Canadian

Posted on June 22, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight it was my great pleasure to witness the opening night of Odysseo in the big tents set up beside the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, presented by Cavalia. Cavalia is a company led by Normand Latourelle that features live music, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | Leave a comment

Life Reflected

Posted on June 19, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight I enjoyed the sole Toronto performance of Life Reflected at Sony Centre, a multi-media anthology produced by the National Arts Centre Orchestra, celebrating four Canadian women as part of the Luminato Festival.  Google tells me that Life Reflected was … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

TSO: a decade’s lessons

Posted on June 15, 2017 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s Decades Project has taken the orchestra and its listeners on a gradual tour through history.  As we’ve progressed forward 10 years at a time we’re less and less able to escape, as more and more we confront … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Toy Piano Composers play with us as they launch CD

Posted on June 8, 2017 by barczablog

When you stop and think about it, it makes sense. We “play” our instruments right? Then surely all instruments are in a real sense toys, broadening the implications of Toy Piano  Composers, a Toronto collective of music makers who just … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 2 Comments