Category Archives: Music and musicology

Visions of Spain, Glimpses of Gimeno

Posted on April 3, 2023 by barczablog

This past week’s Toronto Symphony concert offering “Visions of Spain” also gave a few interesting perspectives on their new Spanish-born music director Gustavo Gimeno. After two rather obscure pieces before intermission, we proceeded to three of the most well-known pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Aqua Cinerea, Boléro, Concierto de Aranjuez, Francisco Coll, Gustavo Gimeno, Henri Dutilleux, Joaquin Rodrigo, Manuel de Falla, Maurice Ravel, Olivier Messiaen, Toronto Symphony, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra | Leave a comment

Mass in B minor from Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Posted on March 29, 2023 by barczablog

Last night’s performance of the Bach B minor Mass by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at Koerner Hall with a baroque orchestra led by their new artistic director Jean-Sébastien Vallée has put us on notice, that maybe Toronto Mendelssohn Choir are … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Jean-Sébastien Vallée, JS Bach, Koerner Hall, Mass in B Minor, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir | Leave a comment

Gimeno conducts Beethoven 5

Posted on March 23, 2023 by barczablog

Wednesday night was the latest example of the remarkable chemistry we see, hear and feel between the Toronto Symphony and their new music director Gustavo Gimeno, continuing the magic of their 100th anniversary season. Last night’s program included Madrigal: Celebration … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Brian Harman, Gustavo Gimeno, Gyorgy Ligeti, Iman Habibi, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Jeder Baum spricht, Ludwig van Beethoven, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony | 2 Comments

Opera York’s Magic Flute

Posted on March 6, 2023 by barczablog

It was worth the drive to Richmond Hill yesterday to see Opera York’s production of The Magic Flute, their first in-person return to the stage since the pandemic. While Friday night’s snow-storm likely reduced attendance, Sunday’s matinee was sold out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Holly Chaplin, Opera York, OperOttawa, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Ryan Downey, The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | 1 Comment

Colin Eatock’s Birthday concert

Posted on February 21, 2023 by barczablog

No there was no cake or champagne but I’m watching my weight and can’t drive home to Scarborough if I’ve been drinking. Yet it was truly like a party, a celebration of our host Colin Eatock on the occasion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Alison Melville, Christopher Bagan, Colin Eatock, Glenn Gould, Hans Poser, Louis Andriessen | Leave a comment

NACO Songs for Murdered Sisters

Posted on February 12, 2023 by barczablog

Every year at this time, the Toronto Symphony and National Arts Centre Orchestras visit one another as part of a tour. NACO and Joshua Hopkins brought the cycle Songs for Murdered Sisters by Jake Heggie and Margaret Atwood to Roy … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Shelley, Isabel Bader, Jake Heggie, Johannes Brahms, Joshua Hopkins, Kingston, Margaret Atwood, NACO, Roy Thomson Hall, TSO | Leave a comment

Questions for Colin Eatock at 65

Posted on February 6, 2023 by barczablog

The invitation from Colin Eatock caught my eye: “I’m organizing a concert in Toronto on February 20 (my 65th birthday).The programme will include a new piece by me.Admission is by donation — I hope you can make it!” We’ve seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Alison Melville, Christopher Bagan, Colin Eatock, Felix Mendelssohn, Glenn Gould, Hans Poser, Heliconian Hall, JS Bach, Louis Andriessen, St Wulfric | Leave a comment

TSO – TMC Mozart Requiem: Best Concert of the Year

Posted on January 12, 2023 by barczablog

The headline is only partly in jest. Yes it was the best concert so far in 2023, as of January 11th. Many are still saying “Happy New Year” and writing the wrong date on cheques (if they even write cheques … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Gregorio Allegri, Hildegard von Bingen, Isaiah Bell, Jane Archibald, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Kevin Deas, Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Francis, Susan Platts, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment

Best of 2022

Posted on January 9, 2023 by barczablog

I enjoy recalling the best moments of the past 12 months. There’s a fork in the road, however. One pathway leads towards that which is truly “new”, while the other relies on what we’ve seen before. Need I mention, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Alexander Neef, ARC Ensemble, Arkady Spivak, Canadian Opera Company, CERB, Chris Abraham, Conan and the Stone of Kelior, Corey Arnold, Crow's Theatre, Eldritch Theatre, Elisa Citterio, Eric Woolfe, Gay for Pay, Gould's Wall, Gustavo Gimeno, Joel Ivany, Kyle McDonald, Lauren Pearl, Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Nicole Lizée, OCADU, Perryn Leech, RCM, Royal Conservatory of Music, RUR A Torrent of Light, Simon Wynberg, Sweeney Todd, Tafelmusik, Talk is Free Theatre, Tapestry Opera, The Lion Heart, TIFT, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, TSO, Wajdi Mouawad, Yuja Wang | Leave a comment

Gustavo Gimeno’s First TSO-TMC Messiah

Posted on December 18, 2022 by barczablog

The surest sign the city seems to be returning to something like normal, is Handel’s Messiah performed all over. I’m seeing many friends on Facebook either reporting that they’re singing it or feeling left out because so many others are … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Elliot Madore, George Frideric Handel, Gustavo Gimeno, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Lauren Fagan, Messiah, Michael Colvin, Roy Thomson Hall, Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Leave a comment