Category Archives: Music and musicology

Lisiecki’s pianism: Chopin plays Schumann

Posted on May 10, 2016 by barczablog

In the film Impromptu we get interesting close-up looks at the personal lives of Chopin, Georges Sand, Liszt, Delacroix and a host of others.  At one point we see Liszt & Chopin playing a Beethoven transcription together, a fascinating thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

Pisani: putting the “melos” in Melodrama

Posted on May 9, 2016 by barczablog

Everyone uses the word, yet few really know what it means. “Melodrama” is a label often attached to human behaviour, but the usage is a metaphor for something else. And I suspect that those who have studied drama or theatre … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Popular music & culture | 2 Comments

Braid or CASP at RBA

Posted on May 5, 2016 by barczablog

Art-song?  The concept didn’t immediately blow me away as a child growing up in the same house with an opera singer, craving the full-out commitment of opera.  The pleasures on record were sometimes esoteric and fleeting.  I think I grew … Continue reading →

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Ambitious TSO program

Posted on May 5, 2016 by barczablog

It wasn’t at all what I expected, this Toronto Symphony program of Beethoven, Brahms and Adams, to be taken on a Canadian tour this weekend (Ottawa Saturday and Montreal Sunday). Peter Oundjian did tell us that it’s unusual to program … Continue reading →

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A Carmen that ends differently

Posted on April 18, 2016 by barczablog

When I’ve missed opening night I try desperately to avoid reading other reviews, a sort of anxiety of influence. Social media makes it tough when you see headlines proclaiming the brilliance of that show: as I saw on Facebook concerning Joel … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera | 1 Comment

Famous tunes at the TSO

Posted on April 11, 2016 by barczablog

And the beat goes on. While there may have been a change of leadership, the Toronto Symphony hot streak continues, with bold performances onstage & at the box office. Sunday afternoon I attended the second of a pair of concerts … Continue reading →

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Lucio Silla: slaying the tyrant at the Elgin Theatre

Posted on April 10, 2016 by barczablog

Tonight I saw Opera Atelier’s Lucio Silla, an opera receiving its Canadian premiere production at the Elgin Theatre. I’ve wondered what was so special about this opera, having heard about previous Opera Atelier presentations of the work in Europe, and … Continue reading →

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Who’s that girl: Laura, Stella, Iris or Betsy

Posted on April 5, 2016 by barczablog

Bernard Herrmann died on Christmas Eve 1975 the day after he had finished recording the score to Taxi Driver. I can’t help thinking of the score as a natural conclusion to one of the big issues of his life. Back … Continue reading →

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

Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt

Posted on April 3, 2016 by barczablog

I saw the second of two performances in the world premiere run of Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt, a new opera composed by Peter Togni from a libretto by Sharon Singer, presented by Opera in Concert – Voicebox. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 4 Comments

Travelogue, or Bicycle Opera take Toy Piano Composers for a ride

Posted on April 3, 2016 by barczablog

If you can judge a book by its cover – or a small performing arts company by its poetic name – then it’s a match made in heaven, this idea for Travelogue: a collaboration between Bicycle Opera Project (opera with … Continue reading →

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