Category Archives: Interviews

Orville Doodles and the terrible imagination of Scott McClelland

Posted on August 14, 2024 by barczablog

Forgive me. The name of the show may be Orville Doodles and his Terrible Imagination but I couldn’t help thinking (as I ponder questions that I will pose to Orville’s creator), that Orville comes from the brain of Scott McClelland. … Continue reading →

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

Edwin Huizinga: Songs and Serenades at Sweetwater Music Festival

Posted on August 14, 2024 by barczablog

Edwin Huizinga is one of those people doing many things in different places. I first encountered him as part of Tafelmusik. I heard Edwin’s original composition in Opera Atelier’s The Angel Speaks in 2019, when he played his baroque violin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Questioning Desperate Measures

Posted on July 7, 2024 by barczablog

Sometimes a theatre piece captures essential conflicts of modern life. If you read this excerpt from the press release for Desperate Measures you’ll see why I wanted to ask them some questions “What would you do for an extra stream … Continue reading →

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

Canadian Premiere of Tom Pasatieri’s The Seagull, Friday June 7th: An Interview with Bill Shookhoff

Posted on May 23, 2024 by barczablog

Tom Pasatieri’s opera The Seagull will get it’s Canadian Premiere on June 7th with Opera By Request. I interviewed Bill Shookhoff to find out about it. ~~~~~~~ Barczablog: Describe the works of Pasatieri: what is his style like?  Bill Shookhoff: … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finding out about Maghan McPhee, soprano

Posted on March 13, 2024 by barczablog

Sometimes interviews are just a series of obvious questions designed to publicize an artist and their work. I’m happy to play that game. But there are times when I’ve been fascinated by what I’ve seen from an artist, my curiosity … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Questions for Tammy Wilson

Posted on February 21, 2024 by barczablog

Tamara Wilson is one of the best singers in the world. Yes we import Europeans to sing opera but some Americans have no equal. We’re lucky to have heard that voice in Toronto, usually the most impressive sound in that … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Questions for Neil Craighead

Posted on February 15, 2024 by barczablog

I miss Neil Craighead, who’s currently studying, working and living out west. You may know him as a Dora Award nominee in 2015 for his Leporello in #UncleJohn with Against the Grain Theatre.  Time flies, look at how young he is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Questions for Jack Hui Litster in anticipation of his Gates of Heaven: Requiem for a Life of Peace

Posted on February 8, 2024 by barczablog

Jack Hui Litster has recently had two original operas produced by OperOttawa. Jack is a multi-instrumentalist and composer of concert music and film and TV score based in Ottawa, blending his classical and popular music training. As Composer-in-Residence for OperOttawa, Jack … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Year of Czech Music: Questions for John Holland

Posted on January 23, 2024 by barczablog

The Year of Czech Music is an event that since 1924 has commemorated the major figures of Czech music. I understand that it began in 1924 for Bedřich Smetana’s 100th anniversary, and has been repeated on every year that ends in a “4” , … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Questions for Alexander Hajek

Posted on January 19, 2024 by barczablog

I heard baritone Alexander Hajek singing at the Toronto Vocal Showcase 1.0 in August. He sang well. Full disclosure? I grew up accompanying my brother baritone Peter Barcza. I tend to be harshest with baritone voices ever since. So it … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment