Category Archives: Music and musicology

Nixon in China, 2021

Posted on July 4, 2021 by barczablog

The Metropolitan Opera feed of free streaming performances celebrate American composers the week of July 4th Independence Day. I was especially excited to get another look at John Adams’s Nixon in China, that we saw both via a production by … Continue reading →

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The Mission in 2021

Posted on June 21, 2021 by barczablog

It’s been a month of reflection for Canadians following the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried on the grounds of the Kamloops residential school, another discovery near Brandon residential school, and the possibility of more to come. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Spirituality & Religion, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Opera Atelier’s Resurrection

Posted on June 2, 2021 by barczablog

When you study theatre history one of the first things you may encounter is the quem quaeritis trope. It’s so short that I can quote it in its entirety, a tiny four line drama re-enacted at Easter in churches. Angels: … Continue reading →

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Dogies and tummies

Posted on May 28, 2021 by barczablog

I’m no cowboy. This probably won’t be news to you, but I wanted to state it up front. The first word in the headline may resemble a typo, if you assume I meant “doggies”. No I meant it the way … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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