Category Archives: Interviews

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Questions for Ryan Hofman, Singer and Outreach Officer

Posted on January 10, 2024 by barczablog

I was in the lobby of the Alumni Theatre waiting to get my tickets for Kyle McDonald’s Conan and the Stone of Kelior in May 2022. Ryan Hofman boldly introduced himself, telling me he’d encountered my brother at UBC when … Continue reading →

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Adam Klein reflects on his operatic career (part 2): Peter Gelb, Robert Lepage and more

Posted on January 6, 2024 by barczablog

The reason I interviewed Adam Klein is interest: in his career, his opinions, and anything I might learn. I am a fan. Adam sang in the Lepage Ring, has been in a lot of shows at the Metropolitan Opera and elsewhere. … Continue reading →

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Adam Klein reflects on the beginning of his operatic career

Posted on January 2, 2024 by barczablog

How do we begin? It’s a good question to ask on January 1st. I am a big fan of tenor Adam Klein. I saw him play Loge in the Robert Lepage production of Das Rheingold, just about the only singer who … Continue reading →

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Questions for Constance Adorno Barcza

Posted on December 30, 2023 by barczablog

Barczablog is like a public diary, a place where I reflect & offer opinions. It should be no surprise that in such a self-centred medium I should write about a Barcza occasionally. In those instances I’m more reticent, whether I’m … Continue reading →

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Questions for Andrew Ager about New Opera Lyra, The Gothic Trilogy and The Mummy

Posted on October 23, 2023 by barczablog

New Opera Lyra (NOL) completes The Gothic Trilogy with the world premiere of Andrew Ager’s The Mummy on October 27th. This follows the premieres of Frankenstein in 2019 and Dracula last season. Andrew is co-artistic director of NOL, where his … Continue reading →

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An all-female Magic Flute from OperOttawa

Posted on October 15, 2023 by barczablog

I heard that OperOttawa are presenting Mozart’s The Magic Flute, an opera I’ve heard called misogynistic, in November with a cast that’s 100% female! I had to ask their their artistic director Norman E Brown about it. Barczablog: Do the … Continue reading →

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Interviewing Alexander Cappellazzo – Apocryphonia and Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet

Posted on September 17, 2023 by barczablog

I first encountered Alexander Cappellazzo in the title role of L’Amant anonyme by Joseph Bologne for Voicebox- Opera in Concert back in March of this year, when he sang “a passage in the first scene that contains an obscene number … Continue reading →

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