Category Archives: Dance, theatre & musicals

RITUÆLS (film-concert)

Posted on December 1, 2020 by barczablog

collectif9 announce the online release of the film-concert Rituæls on December 11, 2020 at 8pm. A 60-minute feature-length film, this production brings together works dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, launching a series of films that create … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lithgow’s Trumpty Dumpty

Posted on November 29, 2020 by barczablog

John Lithgow is one of the most theatrical personalities I can think of. Yes he acts in film & television, but perhaps more importantly, he is an ostentatious performer. He’s not subtle. Not only is he a big man with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Politics, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sky Gilbert’s remarkable new book Shakespeare Beyond Science: When Poetry Was the World

Posted on November 23, 2020 by barczablog

I am on my third read-through of Sky Gilbert’s Shakespeare Beyond Science: When Poetry Was the World. It is the best book I’ve read this year, one of the most interesting books I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been dancing around this … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sounds like hell Mr Adès: Looking in the mirror of The Exterminating Angel

Posted on November 16, 2020 by barczablog

I wasn’t sure I’d have the nerve to go through with it, watching an opera that seems to show us exactly the predicament we face. Based on the surreal film from Luis Bunuel, The Exterminating Angel was today’s free Metropolitan … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beethoven 250: interpreting Sonata #9

Posted on November 14, 2020 by barczablog

There are at least two ways to understand music. We listen. Perhaps you hear a performance on some device such as your smartphone, your TV or a computer, or even in a live setting such as a concert or a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Beethoven 250: his double life

Posted on November 4, 2020 by barczablog

Composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770, almost 250 years ago. The Heiligenstadt Testament was addressed to the composer’s two brothers, Carl & Johann, as a last will and testament. Written in October 1802 as the composer approached his … Continue reading →

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Brand new sound: a moving experience

Posted on November 1, 2020 by barczablog

I stumbled upon something quite by accident and want to share the good news. No I can’t take credit. We’re fixing some old windows, and needed to work with the contractor, who was blocked off by the way the furniture … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, University life | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Aversion to the e-version

Posted on October 22, 2020 by barczablog

Confession: this is a meta-review, a preamble to what’s ahead. I’ve been reading lots of books, and will write about them in the next little while. Once again the pandemic seems to be changing our rules. I saw Singin’ in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Arkady Spivak talks about TIFT Basic Income Guarantee Project

Posted on October 9, 2020 by barczablog

Arkady Spivak is the Artistic Producer of Talk is Free Theatre, a company you may recall for some remarkable shows. I remember tiny perfect shows like their adaptation of Candide, Parkdale Peter Pan or Dani Girl. I can’t forget bigger … Continue reading →

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Yes we can

Posted on October 2, 2020 by barczablog

Is he really gone? Alexander Neef may be in Europe with the Paris Opera but it was already a promiscuous relationship, this General Directorship of the COC. Neef was working for his Toronto audience while at the same time taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment