Category Archives: Music and musicology

Year(s) of Czech Music at the piano

Posted on December 17, 2024 by barczablog

2024 is the year of Czech Music, a celebration that’s held every decade in the year ending in 4. Speaking of ending, this year’s instalment is swiftly coming to a close, a year that saw the Canadian Opera Company present … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, My mother, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The other Christmas Oratorio from Tafelmusik

Posted on November 25, 2024 by barczablog

Excuse me for this preamble, pondering Christmas oratorios. Toronto is Messiah town, as musical ensembles large (Toronto Symphony Dec 17-22 at Roy Thomson Hall or Tafelmusik Dec 20 & 21, plus the Singalong December 22nd) or small (Opera by Request … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fire & Ice: Shostakovich, Sibelius and TSO specialties

Posted on November 18, 2024 by barczablog

When an artist tells you their goals & objectives one should listen. Gustavo Gimeno’s “European Soundscapes” essay in the current Toronto Symphony program gives us some great clues as to what we should expect from the orchestra. No they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stunning serendipity as John Adams Returns

Posted on November 7, 2024 by barczablog

The concert is titled “John Adams Returns”. Toronto Symphony seemed prescient in welcoming the composer this week to conduct a program including some of his own works. It’s uncanny. By the serendipity of the calendar tonight’s concert had a special … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nabucco not as written

Posted on October 23, 2024 by barczablog

I had another chance to see the Canadian Opera Company’s Nabucco last Saturday, this time using my subscription seat. The first time courtesy of the COC comp ticket I watched and listened as a reviewer, while this time it was … Continue reading →

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

A natural high from Tafelmusik’s Feast of Unknowns

Posted on October 19, 2024 by barczablog

Tafelmusik have outdone themselves this time. This concert titled Feast for the Senses was an exploration of new flavours presented with the assistance of Amandine Beyer, guest director and violin soloist, a genuine feast. Baroque for most people means Bach … Continue reading →

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

Everlastingness: Micah Schroeder and Stéphane Mayer in concert October 22nd– POSTPONED

Posted on October 15, 2024 by barczablog

UPDATE from Micah Schroeder (via Facebook)  “It is with a heavy heart that due to unforeseen personal circumstances of one of our performers, we are no longer able to present our recital Everlastingness on Tuesday October 22. I was so … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sankofa: The Soldier’s Tale Retold, and Andrew Burashko’s farewell to Art of Time

Posted on October 9, 2024 by barczablog

For the last 25 years, Art of Time Ensemble has been on the cutting edge of the performing arts in Canada, fusing music with theatre, dance, film and literature in unique and unprecedented ways. The list of illustrious artists who … Continue reading →

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

Rachel Fenlon talks about her self-accompanied Winterreise

Posted on October 8, 2024 by barczablog

It sounds so simple: a self-accompanied Winterreise. It’s already a significant achievement to either sing the songs or play the piano part of Franz Schubert’s romantic song-cycle of the lonely winter wanderer. But doing both at the same time? A … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A seriously playful TSO program

Posted on October 5, 2024 by barczablog

The search for fun can be a serious pursuit. Play is the operative word for a Toronto Symphony program titled “Spirited Overtures:” Gioachino Rossini–Overture to The Barber of SevilleIgor Stravinsky–Jeu de cartes (Card Game)–intermission–Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart–Violin Concerto No. 3 in … Continue reading →

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