Category Archives: Interviews

10 Questions for Michael Mori

Posted on March 28, 2014 by barczablog

Michael Mori was announced as the new Artistic Director of Tapestry Opera earlier this year. Having worked alongside Tapestry founder, Wayne Strongman for two years as Associate Artistic Director and for the past eight months as Artistic Director Designate, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Laura Pudwell

Posted on March 21, 2014 by barczablog

Laura Pudwell’s reputation as a superb vocalist has been well-established as a result of her performances worldwide, in a vast repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary works. I’ve been watching her engaging performances for many years, fascinated by her … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Cavalli, David Fallis, Giasone, Laura Pudwell, opera, Terry McKenna, Toronto Consort | 3 Comments

10 Questions for Mary McGeer

Posted on March 7, 2014 by barczablog

Mary McGeer is Artistic Director of Talisker Players Chamber Music, General Manager and principal violist of the Talisker Players Choral Music Orchestra, also principal violist of the Huronia Symphony, and performs with a wide variety of other ensembles in and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Interviews, Music and musicology | Tagged Alexander Rapoport, Archy & Mehitabel, Don Marquis, Francis Poulenc, Guillaume Apollinaire, Mary McGeer, Talisker Players | Leave a comment

Questions about WWI. (Re)Visions of the Aftermath

Posted on February 23, 2014 by barczablog

WWI. (Re)Visions of the Aftermath, presented this week at Theatre Glendon beginning Wednesday February 26, is an exercise in history & story-telling, both onstage and inter-actively through social media. What was World War I? What impact did it have, perhaps still … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews | 2 Comments

Ten Questions for Sir Thomas Allen

Posted on January 30, 2014 by barczablog

The talent pool at the Canadian Opera Company is deeper than ever, yet even so, few singers have the credentials of Sir Thomas Allen, one of the great singers of his generation. Currently starring as Don Alfonso in the COC’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Canadian Opera Company, Cosi fan tutte, Rachel Andrist, Sir Thomas Allen | Leave a comment

10 Questions for Leslie Ann Bradley

Posted on January 8, 2014 by barczablog

Canadian “Soprano Leslie Ann Bradley brings the stage to life whenever she sets foot into the spotlight” (Toronto Star). Praised as a “vocal and dramatic powerhouse”, her 2013/14 season is filled with debuts and return engagements. Her winter/spring is infused … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Leslie Ann Bradley, Lorna MacDonald, Marie Daveluy, Mary Morrison, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Wendy Nielsen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | 4 Comments

(Q + A) x 300: questions and conversations

Posted on January 1, 2014 by barczablog

This is the moment when bloggers look at their annual stats, notice trends, and perhaps say thank you to the community that supports them. According to my stats I posted 232 different items over 365 days. This is a moment … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Opera | Leave a comment

10 questions for Stephen Lord

Posted on December 31, 2013 by barczablog

Identified by Opera News as one of the “25 Most Powerful Names in US Opera”, Stephen Lord is a conductor known for his sensitive handling of singers. In my review of April’s Canadian Opera Company production of Lucia di Lammermoor … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Aida, Antonino Votto, Canadian Opera Company, Carlos Kleiber, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Giuseppe Verdi, Glenn Gould, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, La Traviata, Regietheater, Sandra Horst, Stephen Lord, Tullio Serafin, Un ballo in maschera | 15 Comments

10 Questions for David Ferry

Posted on December 12, 2013 by barczablog

I first encountered David Ferry as an actor, even though he’s also a director, a dramaturg and a great teacher with extensive experience in theatre, television, film and radio. In that production of Othello Ferry created the most astonishing Iago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews | Tagged (Mercutio, ACTRA, Alex Poch-Goldin, CBC, Clare Coulter, Diana Leblanc, Dostoyevsky, Hamlet, Jack Humphrey, Jennifer Phipps, John Gilbert, Lady Capulet, Layne Coleman, Leontes, Life of Jude, Luke Humphrey, Michael Langham, Paul Gross, Puck, Romeo and Juliet, Sandi Ross, Stratford Festival, Talk is Free Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, The Gambler, The Nurse, William Shakespeare | 2 Comments

10 Questions for Joel Ivany

Posted on November 27, 2013 by barczablog

Joel Ivany’s career seems to be taking off. His work with Against the Grain Theatre here in Toronto is impressive enough, but in addition he directed the recent World premiere of Gavin Bryars chamber opera Marilyn Forever with the Aventa … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Opera | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Albert Herring, AtG, Aventa Ensemble, Christopher Mokrzewski, Debussy, Edmonton Opera, Figaro's Wedding, Gavin Bryars, Joel Ivany, Korngold, Le Nozze di Figaro, Les Contes D’Hoffmann, Macbeth, Marilyn Forever, Messiah, Minnesota Opera, Miriam Khalil, Nabucco, Pelleas et Melisande, Robert Carsen, Royal Conservatory of Music, The Rape of Lucretia, The Silent Serenade, University of Toronto, Verdi, Western University | 2 Comments