Category Archives: Cinema, video & DVDs

Boheme to close the deal

Posted on May 5, 2019 by

It’s that time of year when one considers renewing the opera subscription. Oh don’t get me wrong, I was going to renew it anyway. But the comment from the Mrs today was electric. She’s so glad to know that we’re … Continue reading →

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The Empire Strikes Bach?

Posted on March 23, 2019 by

I didn’t get enough sleep last night.  I got home from the epic St Matthew Passion I wrote about from March 21st aka Bach’s birthday at roughly 11:30 pm, had some vino & pizza with the Mrs and only finished … Continue reading →

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Episode V: beyond popularity

Posted on March 14, 2019 by

Films with live accompaniment are becoming a regular experience. I don’t mean that the novelty is wearing off, at least I hope not. But what began as an experiment has become a new revenue-stream for the Toronto Symphony, somewhere between … Continue reading →

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Evolving past jealousy in opera

Posted on March 13, 2019 by

I was thinking about jealousy today.  It’s funny how sometimes a word can come up over and over again. I confessed to some envy in my last review, admiring the way Stephen Walsh wrote about Debussy.  I don’t know if … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Psychology and perception | 1 Comment

Gosford Park, Ivor Novello: Perchance to Dream

Posted on February 28, 2019 by

When I heard that Toronto Operetta Theatre will be staging Perchance to Dream, an Ivor Novello operetta, I was reminded of Robert Altman’s film Gosford Park.  I dug up the film again last night, delighting in its subtle intimations and … Continue reading →

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Pollyanna and the lessons of 2018

Posted on January 5, 2019 by

In past years my annual review was out in December, but this time it’s later than usual: because I’ve had a real holiday this year, more sleep and more silence than usual, dodging the viruses & germs pursuing other members … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Reviews, Theatre & musicals, University life | 3 Comments

Maria by Callas at TIFF

Posted on October 31, 2018 by

Tonight I saw Tom Volf’s 2017 documentary Maria by Callas at TIFF. With the exception of a brief interview with her singing teacher Elvira de Hidalgo, the film is entirely an account of Maria Callas in her own words, that … Continue reading →

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