Author Archives: barczablog

Cavalli’s Elena from Toronto Consort

Posted on May 13, 2017 by barczablog

Francesco Cavalli’s Elena received its Canadian premiere tonight at the Jeanne Lamon Hall in a partially staged performance that was still more than enough to charm the audience in attendance. As my companion observed it was a nerdy bunch, ready … Continue reading →

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

Precarity in the alternative space of Other Jesus

Posted on May 12, 2017 by barczablog

Evan Webber’s new play Other Jesus, that has been getting presented nightly at St Matthew’s United Church on St Clair, opens a discursive space that I’ve been contemplating. I’m not entirely sure I’m objective about this, given that I’m projecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

Vittoria! COC’s fell-good Tosca

Posted on May 8, 2017 by barczablog

They didn’t change the ending but that’s the best I’ve felt coming out of a Tosca performance in a very long time. You wouldn’t normally think of an opera where all three of the principals die as a feel-good opera. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 6 Comments

Tafelmusik: now wait for next year

Posted on May 6, 2017 by barczablog

Tafelmusik are finishing their 2016-17 season with a series of concerts this weekend at Koerner Hall: that portend great things for next year. And maybe that’s what they wanted to do, leaving us all hot and bothered in anticipation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

The Return and its promise

Posted on May 5, 2017 by barczablog

Three performances remain of The Return (il ritorno) at the Bluma Appel Theatre, the last of Canadian Stage’s “Spotlight Australia”, a kind of festival that they’ve offered the past few weeks.  The Return, from Circa appears to be the creation of Yaron Lifschitz, … Continue reading →

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

On the road again: TSO prepare to tour

Posted on May 4, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight was the first of two farewell concerts for the Toronto Symphony before a two week tour taking them to Tel Aviv & Jerusalem, and then Prague for a residency that Conductor Peter Oundjian spoke of, to honour Karel Ancerl, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

The Music Gallery: new locations for May

Posted on May 2, 2017 by barczablog

We’re on the road until the end of the season! Due to issues with our performance space we’ve had to reschedule our remaining shows – see below for full listings. Please join us for our first Emergents outside of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

Questions for Natalya Gennadi – Oksana G.

Posted on May 1, 2017 by barczablog

Ukrainian Canadian soprano Natalya Gennadi was recently announced as a replacement in the title role of Tapestry Opera’s Oksana G, when the original singer had to cancel. Oksana G tells the story of a young Ukrainian woman lured into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Leave a comment

MYOpera + Rossini = the perfect marriage

Posted on April 29, 2017 by barczablog

I like an opera with ambition. Tonight I saw a production with style & wit whose chief ambition was to make us laugh: and it succeeded admirably because it was unafraid of sometimes being totally silly. MYOpera launched their 2017 … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

CCOC’s 50th Anniversary Season Announcement

Posted on April 25, 2017 by barczablog

Ben Heppner and other opera stars join the Canadian Children’s Opera Company for thrilling 50th Anniversary Season TORONTO – The Canadian Children’s Opera Company presents the thrilling lineup of its 2016/2017 50th Anniversary Season.  Founded by Ruby Mercer and Lloyd … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment