Category Archives: Music and musicology

Gimeno + Hannigan = Ear-candy

Posted on May 20, 2022 by barczablog

It was a splendid formula. Far be it from me to propose something as reductive as math in the headline, only that the concert is titled “Gimeno + Hannigan”, which is certainly a quick overview. Between them Gustavo Gimeno and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Barbara Hannigan, Gustavo Gimeno, Igor Stravinsky, Julia Mermelstein, Tash Aw, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Zosha Di Castri | 1 Comment

Virtual Bach

Posted on May 7, 2022 by barczablog

While I hoped to go to Tafelmusik’s presentation of the Bach B-minor Mass Thursday night in Massey Hall it was not to be. I was still testing positive for COVID. Instead Friday night I chose to watch a live concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Joanne Lunn, Jonathan Adams, JS Bach, Masaaki Suzuki, Massey Hall, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Thomas Hobbs, Tim Mead | Leave a comment

News, positive and negative

Posted on April 28, 2022 by barczablog

It’s been a hard week so far. I’m heart-broken with the news in my inbox, that Elisa Citterio is leaving Tafelmusik. I can’t help but wonder about the subtexts for this change. Perhaps it’s just the pandemic and its deadly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Food, Health and Nutrition, Music and musicology, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Amanda Hale, Carmen, Elisa Citterio, Flying Dutchman, Georges Bizet, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Kye Marshall, Macbeth, Marriage of Figaro, Pomegranate, Quinn Kelsey, Richard Wagner, Sondra Radvanovsky, Tosca | 2 Comments

Kyle McDonald talks about Conan and Mightier Productions

Posted on April 27, 2022 by barczablog

Kyle McDonald and Mightier Productions premiere a new opera on May 5th, titled Conan and the Stone of Kelior. I asked Kyle a few questions. BB: When I look at your website, I see a commercial venture: (hopefully you recognize … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera, Popular music & culture | Tagged Alumnae Theatre, Conan, Conan and the Stone of Kelior, Corey Arnold, Diana DiMauro, Fraggle Rock, Geoffrey Davis, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Jim Smagata, Kristi Ann Holt, Kyle McDonald, Mark Rehkopf, Mightier Productions, pasticcio, Robert de Vrij | Leave a comment

Italian Mime Preview

Posted on April 22, 2022 by barczablog

I was at the preview of Italian Mime Suicide from Bad New Days, co-directed by Kari Pederson and Adam Paolozza. It’s short but intense, part lecture, part performance, sometimes serious sometimes funny. No question about it, I’m out of practice, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged Adam Paolozza, Arif Mirabdolbaghi, Bad New Days, CAMH, Cheldon Paterson, Domenick Argento, Electric Messiah, Ericka Leobrera, Federico Fellini, Georges Melies, Italian Mime Suicide, Mime, mimesis, My Favorite Year, Nicholas Eddie, Postcard from Morocco, Rob Feetham, SlowPitchSound, Wim Wenders, Wings of Desire | Leave a comment

Ecology of Being –Duo Concertante

Posted on April 16, 2022 by barczablog

In childhood I heard musicians and performers protesting the Vietnam War or advocating as part of the Civil Rights Movement. Ever since I’ve admired activist artists. Music, film, satire, humour, painting, can all be powerful voices advocating change, moving emotions, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Politics, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged Anthropocene, anthropogenic global warming, Bekah Sims, Carmen Braden, Clara Steeves, Dawn Avery, Duo Concertante, Ian Cusson, Melissa Hui, Nancy Dahn, Randolph Peters, Timothy Steeves | Leave a comment

Truth in our Time—NACO

Posted on March 31, 2022 by barczablog

It’s an ambitious package, this National Arts Centre Orchestra Tour. There’s a world premiere of a Philip Glass symphony, commissioned by the family of newsman Peter Jennings, and three other works collected around the idea of “truth in our time”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Shelley, Blake Pouliot, Dimitri Shostakovich, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Nicole Lizée, Peter Jennings, Philip Glass, Roy Thomson Hall, Zeiss After Dark | 2 Comments

Alexander Shelley is coming to town

Posted on March 27, 2022 by barczablog

Before there were convoys and honking horns, it used to be said that living in Ottawa gave you advantages, because of your proximity to the seats of power. Yet maybe there’s still some truth to it when we look at … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Alexander Shelley, Ana Sokolovic, Carnegie Hall, CBC, CBC-GEM, Dmitri Shostakovich, Donna Feore, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Life Reflected, Luminato, Measha Brueggergosman, NACO, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Nicole Lizee, Philip Gla, Roy Thomson Hall, Shawnee Kish, Southam Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, UNDISRUPTED | Leave a comment

Composers dissing composers

Posted on March 21, 2022 by barczablog

Earlier today I commented on John Gilks’ post about The Lion Heart a new opera by Corey Arnold and Kyle McDonald that received its world premiere in a semi-staged production this past weekend. Near the end of his review John … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Conversations with Tom Service, Corey Arnold, Elektra, Felix Mendelssohn, Giacomo Meyerbeer, John Gilks, Kyle McDonald, Opera and Drama, operaramblings, Pelleas et Melisande, Richard Wagner, The Lion Heart, Thomas Ades | 6 Comments

Kindred Spirits Orchestra– Enigma Variations

Posted on March 13, 2022 by barczablog

Last night I heard Kindred Spirits Orchestra playing at the Richmond Hill Centre, led by their conductor Kristian Alexander with piano soloist Naomi Wong. From outside it looks nice enough.. I forget the beauty of this space, until I enter. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Edward Elgar, Frederic Chopin, Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Kristian Alexander, Lieutenant Kije Suite, Naomi Wong, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Sergei Prokofiev | Leave a comment