Category Archives: Music and musicology

What Mom taught me

Posted on May 28, 2021 by barczablog

I’m very lucky that my mother is still alive, an amazing example. My dad passed away when I was very young, so my family is matriarchal, lucky for us. I only have 3 or 4 solid memories of my father. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, My mother, Popular music & culture, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

American Idolatry

Posted on May 26, 2021 by barczablog

The finale of 2021’s American Idol competition this past weekend is a curious reflection of popular culture, a snapshot of our world. There were three finalists: Grace Kinstler sang covers, sometimes emulating stars such as Whitney Houston with her powerful … Continue reading →

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

ZUMI Legends

Posted on May 26, 2021 by barczablog

I’ve been listening to the ten Dvorak Legends played by ZUMI Piano Duo. “ZUMI” comes from the two players. Zuzana & Mikolaj, or ZU + MI = ZUMI. Pianist Mikolaj Warszynski caught my attention with a pair of recordings, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Karel Ančerl of the Toronto Symphony

Posted on May 17, 2021 by barczablog

While reading Hermione Lee’s account of Tom Stoppard’s childhood in Czechoslovakia I was reminded of Karel Ančerl, the Toronto Symphony’s conductor and music-director roughly fifty years ago. Before Kenneth Stoppard appears on the scene in Darjeeling India, marries Magda Sträussler, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

American Idol and popularity

Posted on April 13, 2021 by barczablog

Do you ever watch American Idol? I’d say it’s the best reality tv that you can find, unless you prefer one of the other performance shows where people sing or dance. There are really two parts to it. At the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Baudelaire Bicentennial

Posted on April 10, 2021 by barczablog

I must be brief. How does one speak of the bicentennial of a poet such as Charles Baudelaire, born two hundred years ago on April 9th in 1821? how to find the right words,…? Some know him for his poetry, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Voices juxtaposed by Opera in Concert

Posted on February 11, 2021 by barczablog

The one act play La Voix Humaine was written by Jean Cocteau in 1928. The one act opera La Voix Humaine based on that play was composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. Each one is a monodrama, presented by a … Continue reading →

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

Jussi 2021

Posted on February 3, 2021 by barczablog

I’m reading Jussi, a biography of Swedish tenor Jussi Björling from his widow Anna-Lisa Björling, and a surprisingly honest look at the life of a famous singer. It’s an appropriate week to think about Jussi. He used to celebrate his … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

François Girard’s Flying Dutchman

Posted on January 30, 2021 by barczablog

François Girard’s production of Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman is tonight’s free opera on the Metropolitan Opera website, available also tomorrow until the early evening when Rigoletto takes over. It’s new as in, having premiered in 2020. I heard & … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A tale of the stub, or Pollyanna Interrupted

Posted on January 20, 2021 by barczablog

As I was choosing my wardrobe for a trip to my mom’s place for lunch, I opted as usual to try to look a bit nicer for her, pulling out a pair of dress-pants that I realized haven’t been touched … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Leave a comment