Category Archives: Interviews

Questions for Stephanie Martin: Babel

Posted on March 2, 2016 by barczablog

Stephanie Martin is a composer & conductor, associate professor of music at York University. I heard about her because of a brief controversy that has already been settled, concerning her choral symphony Babel to be premiered at Wilfrid Laurier University … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Kevin Lau

Posted on March 2, 2016 by barczablog

I first encountered composer Kevin Lau on the 2012 CD PREMIERES, where I said the following: Speaking of happy, I find myself more and more impressed by the work of the most junior contributor, namely Kevin Lau’s Joy. I found myself … Continue reading →

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Questions for James Ledger: Anton Webern and John Lennon come together

Posted on February 28, 2016 by barczablog

When I go to James Ledger’s website his bio begins with “The orchestral music of James Ledger is well known to Australian concert-goers:” which sounds like an admonition to this Canadian, who doesn’t yet know his work. Ledger interests me as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Questions for Christos Hatzis

Posted on February 19, 2016 by barczablog

Christos Hatzis is a Juno award winning composer and professor of composition at the University of Toronto.  I was recently blown away by his score for Going Home Star, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s extraordinary piece in response to the Truth … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Popular music & culture, Spirituality & Religion, University life | 3 Comments

Questions for Iain MacNeil: Guth’s Figaro

Posted on February 17, 2016 by barczablog

Canadian bass-baritone Iain MacNeil joined the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio in the fall of 2014, after studying at University of Toronto Opera with Canadian soprano Wendy Nielsen.  There’s a more complete biography on his website: here. His career is off … Continue reading →

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Questions for Jordan de Souza

Posted on January 28, 2016 by barczablog

Jordan de Souza, “the fast-rising young Canadian maestro with a busy international career” (Ottawa Citizen), is currently a Guest Conductor, Assistant Conductor, and Cover Conductor at the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada, and the Bregenz Festival (Austria), and is the newly appointed Resident Conductor for Tapestry Opera, … Continue reading →

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Questions for Johannes Debus: busy baton

Posted on January 21, 2016 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company’s winter season begins soon, featuring two long operas led by the same maestro, namely Johannes Debus. Siegfried, the penultimate of the Wagner operas in the Ring Cycle premieres January 23rd, while Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro follows … Continue reading →

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Questions for Brahm Goldhamer: playing Schubert

Posted on January 2, 2016 by barczablog

I know Brahm Goldhamer as a collaborative pianist of exceptional sensitivity. Of all the Toronto pianists I’ve heard in the concert-opera mode—where piano must stand in for all the instruments of the orchestra—his performance in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Chris Walroth

Posted on December 30, 2015 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s new year begins on tour in Florida. It’s tough enough when a hundred well-rehearsed players take the stage at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, where we all presumably eat & sleep; quite another to undertake playing Beethoven … Continue reading →

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Questions for Leanne Pepper @ University of Toronto Faculty Club    

Posted on December 20, 2015 by barczablog

At one time I used to regularly meet Leanne Pepper on the bus on the way home, when she lived a few block away from me in the east end of Toronto.   I’ve known Leanne for a decade or two, … Continue reading →

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