Category Archives: Music and musicology

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance at the RBA

Posted on April 11, 2018 by barczablog

It’s interesting that on consecutive days, the Canadian Opera Company gave their noon-hour concert in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre over to a performance resembling an act of remembrance. Yesterday was Jeremy Dutcher’s concert, in which he seemed to address the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | 1 Comment

I Remember: UTS

Posted on April 11, 2018 by barczablog

I’m going through a series of retrospective experiences. Yesterday was Jeremy Dutcher’s concert exploring and re-visiting music from his culture.  Today I heard a Holocaust memorial performance (review still to come). And the whole time as a kind of background … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, University life | 3 Comments

Jeremy Dutcher at the RBA

Posted on April 11, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve heard Jeremy Dutcher before in collaboration with other artists: As part of the first Electric Messiah in 2015 As part of Toronto Consort’s Kanatha/Canada: First Encounters, a little over a year ago This time we heard him alone. Having … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Spirituality & Religion | 5 Comments

Tafelmusik Bach Mass in B Minor

Posted on April 6, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight I heard the first of five performances to be given of JS Bach’s Mass in B Minor by Tafelmusik (four at Jeanne Lamon Hall in Trinity St Paul’s Centre, April 5-8 inclusive, and one more at the George Weston … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 6 Comments

The Overcoat: a musical tailoring

Posted on March 30, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve just seen the premiere of a new opera from James Rolfe & Morris Panych adapting Gogol’s story “The Overcoat”. There’s much to admire, and frankly I feel like saying “it’s about time.” Opera is often bogged down in virtuoso … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

Jaws live with the TSO: not the same

Posted on March 24, 2018 by barczablog

Every time I’ve seen one of these live Toronto Symphony showings of a classic film + film-score, I’ve had some remarkable experiences complete with insights, and tonight’s showing of Jaws was no different. The phrase that keeps running through my … Continue reading →

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

Paint Me a Song: three cycles for three painters. 

Posted on March 20, 2018 by barczablog

CASP, the Canadian Art Song Project, regularly undertake ambitious programs to push the possibilities of their medium.  To begin tonight’s concert, “Paint Me a Song”, Co-artistic Director Steven Philcox gave some insight into the creation of our program. Curating and commissioning … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Sirett, Koniuk & Oriana: romance on the road

Posted on March 11, 2018 by barczablog

This weekend I went out of town to see a concert while processing this weekend’s great tempo rubato. Daylight Savings Time appropriates an hour from our lives that will only be given back half a year from now. I figured … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Leave a comment

Lang Lang: apprentices among the sorcerers

Posted on March 2, 2018 by barczablog

The great piano virtuoso Lang Lang came to Roy Thomson Hall tonight to play with the Toronto Symphony. Because he’s suffering from tendinitis the program was changed to include his young protégé. Lang Lang & Maxim Lando played a series … Continue reading →

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Questions for Geoffrey Sirett – The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring

Posted on February 24, 2018 by barczablog

Sometimes interviews are a pretext to get closer to someone you’ve admired for awhile, watching their development as an artist. Oh sure, I’m interviewing Geoffrey Sirett because he’s about to star in the Canadian Stage – Tapestry Opera—Vancouver Opera co-production … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | 1 Comment