Category Archives: Interviews

Questions for Tracy Dahl

Posted on April 19, 2018 by barczablog

In the recent Canadian Opera Company Cosi fan tutte from just over 4 years ago, Tracy Dahl’s sparkling portrayal of Despina was the breath of fresh air that we desperately needed in Atom Egoyan’s dark intense interpretation. Here’s what I … Continue reading →

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Questions for Victor Davies: The Ecstasy of Rita Joe

Posted on March 7, 2018 by barczablog

Victor Davies is a Canadian composer whose work I have previously encountered in Toronto productions. His adaptation of Wilde’s comedy (in partnership with librettist Eugene Benson), called Earnest, The Importance of Being came to Toronto Operetta Theatre in 2015 (originally … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Politics, University life | 1 Comment

Questions for Geoffrey Sirett – The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring

Posted on February 24, 2018 by barczablog

Sometimes interviews are a pretext to get closer to someone you’ve admired for awhile, watching their development as an artist. Oh sure, I’m interviewing Geoffrey Sirett because he’s about to star in the Canadian Stage – Tapestry Opera—Vancouver Opera co-production … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | 1 Comment

Questions for Maxim Lando: Lang Lang’s protégé

Posted on February 16, 2018 by barczablog

Maxim Lando is a 15 year old American pianist. In 2017 at the age of fourteen, Maxim performed Rachmaninoff 3rd Concerto with the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in Saint Petersburg,  receiving rave commentary on the popular Russian TV Kultura program Tzar’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology | 1 Comment

Questions for Sara Schabas: Canadian premieres of two Jake Heggie operas

Posted on January 26, 2018 by barczablog

Canadian soprano Sara Schabas is the founder of the Electric Bond Opera Ensemble, a group that aims to present classical and operatic works that tell untold stories, reminding audiences and performers of the “electric bond of being” (Thomas Huxley) by … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 1 Comment

Extra Questions for John Allemang

Posted on January 16, 2018 by barczablog

I went to a small school where hero-worship was natural, given that we were all boys (that changed as they admitted girls for the first time in the very year I left, and yes I wish it had been sooner).  … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 3 Comments

Who is Guido? I ask the women of NINE

Posted on January 8, 2018 by barczablog

Podium Concert Productions, who will be presenting Nine in Concert January 12-13 describe the show this way: Based on Italian director Federico Fellini’s comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, 8 1/2, Maury Yeston’s sultry and enchanting musical Nine follows the life … Continue reading →

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Questions for Derek Bate

Posted on December 19, 2017 by barczablog

Derek Bate has impacted different aspects of the musical life of Toronto, known both for music-theatre & opera. A one time Chorus Master of the Canadian Opera Company, Derek was in the pit for the original Toronto Production of Les … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | 1 Comment

Questions for George Frideric Handel

Posted on December 10, 2017 by barczablog

I feel blessed to have had a chance to interview a hero and one of the most popular of all composers. “Popularity”? Let’s set aside the 21st century understanding with the weekend “box-office champion”.  When a work of art survives … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology | 6 Comments

Jennifer Nichols talks about Haus Musik Crossing / Traversée

Posted on November 11, 2017 by barczablog

I invited Jennifer Nichols to talk about Haus Musik. If I understand the concept Haus Musik aims to do what every classical music company seeks: re-packaging and re-inventing their content in new ways in the quest for that elusive younger … Continue reading →

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