Category Archives: Cinema, video & DVDs

Tapestry’s Revolutionary Questions

Posted on April 5, 2014 by barczablog

I apologized to Michael Mori –Tapestry Opera’s Artistic Director & the director of Tap:Ex Revolutions, the program that opened tonight at the Ernest Balmer Studio—after the show for what I knew was going to say.  Not critical words, but rather, … Continue reading →

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

A better Mary Poppins

Posted on April 1, 2014 by barczablog

Before I had ever seen an opera, I already had experience with adaptation. I had read Mary Poppins. And then I encountered the Disney film. Julie Andrews didn’t really seem anything like the character in the book. I was young, … Continue reading →

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American Hustle

Posted on March 23, 2014 by barczablog

It should be better.  The performances are mostly good.  Christian Bale is amazing with a surprisingly big gut and a comb-over, channelling the Robert De Niro of Raging Bull.  Yes, we’re told, Amy Adams can act.  This is the sexiest … Continue reading →

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Unfinished dreams from Borodin to Putin

Posted on March 2, 2014 by barczablog

Today’s High Definition broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera (Dmitri Tcherniakov’s version of Borodin’s Prince Igor) threw me.  I’m sure I couldn’t be the only person amazed at how perfectly the show seemed to match what’s unfolding, while the world holds … Continue reading →

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Tcherniakov’s Wozzeck

Posted on February 26, 2014 by barczablog

Dmitri Tcherniakov is a brilliant young artist—just approaching his 44th birthday—who designs his own sets & costumes as well as directing his singers.  The DVD I just watched of Alban Berg’s opera Wozzeck was a co-pro. between the Bolshoi Theatre … Continue reading →

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Accomplished Don

Posted on February 17, 2014 by barczablog

I think I recall seeing the trailer for Don Jon last summer.  It came & went, and now I’ve caught up with the Don on the small screen via pay per view. I recall having an argument with a director … Continue reading →

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Her

Posted on January 27, 2014 by barczablog

It’s the shortest film title I’ve seen in awhile. Her It’s eerie just how much this film reminds me of the present and where we seem to be going.  Today, for instance, I was listening to Norah Young on Spark, … Continue reading →

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Olsen writes about Syberberg’s Parsifal

Posted on January 26, 2014 by barczablog

In October 2007 I wrote the following review for the Wagner News (the newsletter of the Toronto Wagner Society), concerning Solveig Olsen’s massive book analyzing Syberberg‘s film of Parsifal.  I’m pulling it out again because I’m thinking of Syberberg’s film … Continue reading →

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Adapting Martin Chuzzlewit

Posted on January 24, 2014 by barczablog

Just had the first run of Martin Chuzzlewit which I am directing at Ryerson. It is by Charles Dickens in a great adaptation by Michael Hollingsworth. The text has sixty seven scenes and forty characters. Dickens thought the novel his … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, University life | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Tcherniakov’s Don Giovanni

Posted on January 13, 2014 by barczablog

Dimitri Tcherniakov has been seen a fair bit on TFO lately.  After recent productions of Il trovatore and Ruslan und Ludmilla, tonight’s broadcast had special importance, a co-production with several companies including the Canadian Opera Company.  COC General Director Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , | 6 Comments