Category Archives: Music and musicology

Not quite forgotten: Liszt’s Valses oubliées

Posted on October 6, 2019 by barczablog

The composer centennials & bicentennials may be artificial stimuli to research, but the effect is real. Knowing that everyone is suddenly focusing upon a particular period seems to inspire all sorts of interesting studies, conferences where people share their research … Continue reading →

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Vivaldi con amore

Posted on October 5, 2019 by barczablog

I have been listening to Tafelmusik’s first CD with their new music director Elisa Citterio Vivaldi con amore. The title tells you what to expect, a recording affectionate as a love-letter, a promise of great things to come. I’ve lost … Continue reading →

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Robert Wilson’s Turandot

Posted on September 29, 2019 by barczablog

While the music is very much Puccini’s Turandot, a regular opera fan attending the premiere of the Canadian Opera Company’s new production might have trouble recognizing it. That’s why the headline proclaims it as Robert Wilson’s Turandot. Two words lurk … Continue reading →

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Amplified Opera: interviewing Teiya Kasahara and Aria Umezawa

Posted on September 26, 2019 by barczablog

I have huge admiration for the two artists behind Amplified Opera (aka AO), namely Aria Umezawa and Teiya Kasahara, a new opera company. Aria directed L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi in March. Teiya was larger than life singing in Pomegranate in … Continue reading →

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Tafelmusik meets Tchaikovsky

Posted on September 21, 2019 by barczablog

Finally! After waiting for decades Tafelmusik’s concert program tonight with works by Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn plus a brand new composition felt like a political statement. Already last year led by their new Music Director Elisa Citterio, we were experiencing a … Continue reading →

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Dynamic Duo: Hannigan & Storgårds

Posted on September 20, 2019 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s opening concert welcomed the “dynamic duo”, soprano Barbara Hannigan and violinist John Storgårds. Each did some conducting, and each took a turn as a soloist. While it was not a long evening it felt like a lot … Continue reading →

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Les sons et les parfums…

Posted on September 15, 2019 by barczablog

Janina Fialkowska has made a delightful new recording of French piano music titled “Les sons et les parfums…” You might know that phrase from Baudelaire’s Fleurs du mal, in a wonderfully evocative poem “Harmonie du soir”, where music is as fundamental … Continue reading →

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Cinematic rockstars

Posted on September 12, 2019 by barczablog

I wish I could somehow reclaim my innocence.  Sometimes sophistication & experience get in the way. No you can’t believe everything you read, especially when you overthink (….guilty). When will I learn? I came to Rocketman this past weekend more … Continue reading →

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

Robert Wilson and Turandot

Posted on September 8, 2019 by barczablog

I’ve been reading a bit about Robert Wilson in anticipation of the new Canadian Opera Company Turandot that is to launch the 2019-2020 season at the Four Seasons Centre, a co-production with Teatro Real & Lithuanian National Opera. Online pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, theatre & musicals, Essays, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toronto Symphony’s new Berlioz CD

Posted on August 23, 2019 by barczablog

Did they know when they programmed the Toronto Symphony Concert for September 2018 featuring Berlioz works conducted by Sir Andrew Davis that it was going to make a good recording? Here I am now thrilled to be able to listen … Continue reading →

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