Author Archives: barczablog

Questions for Evan Webber: Other Jesus

Posted on April 11, 2017 by barczablog

Evan Webber is a writer and performance maker who lives in Toronto. Evan’s work considers the relationship between time and text, and between narratives and institutions. Evan is an Associate Artist of Public Recordings, a collaborative operation that conjoins artistic research, performance … Continue reading →

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

Robert Lepage speaks white in 887

Posted on April 8, 2017 by barczablog

Although I missed Robert Lepage’s 887 the first time it came to Toronto in 2015 (during the Pan Am Games) I’m glad I was able to see it today with Canadian Stage at the Bluma Appel, in a short run … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics | 3 Comments

Dausgaard leads TSO

Posted on April 8, 2017 by barczablog

Judging by the way the Toronto Symphony are responding to their current series of guest conductors, I have to wonder. Are they better than we realize? Perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect so much excitement from a resident music-director. Or then … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Othon: au revoir à Straub et Huillet

Posted on April 3, 2017 by barczablog

The mystery of Straub and Huillet has not been solved by watching their films.  This afternoon TIFF presented the final screenings of Not Reconciled: The Films of Jean-Marie Straub and Daniéle Huillet. And while the TIFF series may be over … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | Leave a comment

TSO’s Beethoven & Stravinsky

Posted on April 2, 2017 by barczablog

There are several different currents flowing through Roy Thomson Hall right now, and each one is inspiring the Toronto Symphony and their audience in different ways. We’re hearing two minute Sesquis: original little jewels to commemorate the Canadian Sesquicentennial. We’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Extra Trouble – Jack Smith in Frankfurt

Posted on April 1, 2017 by barczablog

“Extra Trouble – Jack Smith in Frankfurt” at Künstlerhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt a.M. Th. 22.11. — Su. 25.11.2012 Guest blog by Zoe Barcza recalling November 2012 The festival “Extra Trouble – Jack Smith in Frankfurt” (a dense weekend of screenings, talks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, guest blog | Leave a comment

Raiders: Williams & the matter of popularity

Posted on March 30, 2017 by barczablog

The recent fad for films with live accompaniment is shining a light on artistry that has often languished in obscurity.  Oh sure, film music composers are well paid, especially someone like John Williams, composer of the score for Raiders of … Continue reading →

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

Kommunisten: Straub sans Huillet

Posted on March 29, 2017 by barczablog

TIFF have been presenting “Not Reconciled”: which is both the epithet attached to this powerful retrospective and the first film from the uncompromising collaborative team Danièle Huillet and her husband Jean-Marie Straub. Tonight we ventured into a very dark, place, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Politics, Reviews | 1 Comment

Tallis Scholars & friends: Magnificat

Posted on March 26, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight felt like a kind of affirmation of permanence in the face of change and disorder in the world. The Tallis Scholars, conducted by Peter Phillips, joined forces with two University of Toronto ensembles –Schola Cantorum and Theatre of Early … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | 1 Comment

Beyond Reason: Wagner contra Nietzsche

Posted on March 25, 2017 by barczablog

I finished my previous book last night (They Can’t Kill Us All). I began the review of that fascinating book—filled with the keen-eyed observations of Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery—by a kind of apologetic preamble about my life in fantasyland, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Politics | 1 Comment