Category Archives: Music and musicology

Tafelmusik and Jakob Lehmann introduce us to Sophie Gail, Louise Farrenc and also Beethoven

Posted on September 26, 2026 by barczablog

The Tafelmusik concert I heard Friday night at Koerner Hall makes an interesting chaser to the Toronto Symphony Concert I saw Thursday, my previous lengthy rapturous review. Yes there’s a lot going on in Toronto, and these two concerts on … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Yuja Wang plays Prokofiev: a study in contrasts to open the Toronto Symphony season

Posted on September 25, 2026 by barczablog

“Yuja Wang Plays Prokofiev” might be the title of the Toronto Symphony’s opening concert of the 2026-27 season Thursday September 24th, but we heard a great deal more last night. Yuja also played four brilliant encores in a breath-taking display … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Questions for composer Linda Catlin Smith: an interview

Posted on September 19, 2026 by barczablog

Linda Catlin Smith is a composer I’m pleased to interview, as a couple of her works are about to be premiered, including one by the Toronto Symphony next week. Her music is heard and acclaimed around the world, whether it’s … Continue reading →

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

Jennifer King’s suffragist pianism comes to Toronto

Posted on September 15, 2026 by barczablog

I think it’s the first time I was at a concert program like this, consisting entirely of classical music composed by women. To begin English composer Ethel Smyth (1858–1944) greeted us from the stage, introducing each piece that she played … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Elissa Lee talks about the upcoming BIGLAKE Festival

Posted on August 18, 2026 by barczablog

Founders and Directors Elissa Lee and Johannes Debus present BIGLAKE, an annual festival in Prince Edward County (PEC). Founded in 2018 by classical musicians Elissa Lee and Johannes Debus in Toronto, the BIGLAKE Festival has become a cornerstone of quality … Continue reading →

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

Two sides of the same fiddler

Posted on July 22, 2026 by barczablog

Toronto Summer Music showed us a magic trick. William Fedkenheuer played classical violin in the first half of the concert. William on violin and Orion Weiss on piano played a movement of Brahms, then a sonata of Beethoven and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kleztory at Toronto Summer Music

Posted on July 21, 2026 by barczablog

Kleztory made their third appearance at Toronto Summer Music Festival Monday July 20th at Walter Hall although this was my first chance to hear and see them, as much a visual as aural experience. Kleztory sometimes play music that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Golden Age: Erin Morley and Lawrence Brownlee bring their magic to a live performance at Koerner Hall

Posted on July 17, 2026 by barczablog

Last year soprano Erin Morley and tenor Lawrence Brownlee released an album titled “Golden Age” accompanied by Munich Radio Orchestra conducted by Ivan Repušić featuring opera solos & duets from the 19th century. Thursday July 16th, the Toronto Summer Music … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mark Tetreault recalls his Toronto Symphony Tuba playing days

Posted on July 12, 2026 by barczablog

Whenever I come into the concert hall for a Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert and see a tuba my heart beats a bit faster: because it means something extraordinary. I just googled the tuba. You won’t hear the instrument in a … Continue reading →

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

A Toronto Summer Music opening night celebration with Les Arts Florissants

Posted on July 10, 2026 by barczablog

Driving downtown to the concert Thursday night July 9th in Koerner Hall I drove through downpours, hearing of roads closed by local flooding. By the time I got there the weather had cleared up, an auspicious beginning: to the 2026 … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment