Author Archives: barczablog

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

TSO and Walton’s Decade

Posted on June 4, 2017 by barczablog

I can’t be the only one who made the connection, watching the Toronto Symphony tonight at Roy Thomson Hall.   It felt like a special concert. Sir Andrew Davis was just announced this week as the TSO’s interim Artistic Director for … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Reviews | 2 Comments

Christopher Cameron: Dr Bartolo’s Umbrella

Posted on June 3, 2017 by barczablog

This one is different. I’ve encountered memoirs written by artists I’ve respected from afar often created with the help of a ghost-writer. But Chris Cameron’s Dr Bartolo’s Umbrella and Other Tales from my Surprising Operatic Life, perhaps a bit like Chris … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

TSO: Sir Andrew Davis to be interim Artistic Director, Peter Oundjian Conductor Emeritus

Posted on May 31, 2017 by barczablog

May 31, 2017: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) announces today that Sir Andrew Davis will act as Interim Artistic Director for two seasons following the conclusion of Peter Oundjian’s 14-year tenure as Music Director at the end of the 2017/18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | 1 Comment

TSO: back in Toronto, eh?

Posted on May 28, 2017 by barczablog

After an exciting tour to Israel and Europe, the Toronto Symphony are back in Canada. “Back in Toronto eh” could just as easily be “back in Toronto A” given what we heard tonight, a program consisting of a pair of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

Bad Jews: laughter and tears

Posted on May 27, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight I was held captive by the eruptions of emotion in Joshua Harmon’s 2012 comedy Bad Jews, receiving its Canadian premiere production at the Small World Music Centre, in the Koffler Centre for the Arts, directed by Michèle Lonsdale-Smith. Yes … Continue reading →

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

The Comedian: Jews, good and bad

Posted on May 26, 2017 by barczablog

Sometimes the stars align, and guarantee that things will fail. Stars do that? Hm, Shakespeare did say something, that the fault, dear reader, is not in our stars. I don’t think he was talking about casting, no not that sort … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs | Leave a comment

Oksana G review

Posted on May 25, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight was the world premiere of Tapestry Opera’s Oksana G¸ a new full-length opera with music by Aaron Gervais and libretto by Colleen Murphy, stage direction by Tom Diamond and music direction by Jordan de Souza. As an event promoted … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

Dr. Bartolo’s Umbrella launching May 24th

Posted on May 23, 2017 by barczablog

Introducing Dr Bartolo’s Umbrella: Christopher Cameron’s funny, irreverent, touching memoir of his life as a Canadian opera and concert singer in the 1970s and 80s. His often hilarious stories about performing offer insight into their historical context, plus such arcane facts … Continue reading →

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

The real prize, and never mind appropriation

Posted on May 16, 2017 by barczablog

While I knew what was coming, I was still stunned. When Matt Galloway asked Jesse Wente to address the question of cultural appropriation raised a few days ago by Hal Niedzviecki’s Write Magazine editorial, I knew what was coming. I … Continue reading →

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