Category Archives: Music and musicology

The Year of Czech Music: Questions for John Holland

Posted on January 23, 2024 by barczablog

The Year of Czech Music is an event that since 1924 has commemorated the major figures of Czech music. I understand that it began in 1924 for Bedřich Smetana’s 100th anniversary, and has been repeated on every year that ends in a “4” , … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Anton Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, Canadian Institute for Czech Music, Jakobín, John Holland, Leos Janacek, Prodaná Nevěsta, The Bartered Bride, The Makropulos Case, Věc Makropulos, Year of Czech Music, Year of Czech Music Opera Fest | 1 Comment

From Sappho’s Lyre

Posted on December 9, 2023 by barczablog

Constantine Caravassilis is the composer of From Sappho’s Lyre, a recording from Orchid Classics of original music played by Tallinna Kammerorkester and Tenth Muse Ensemble and vocal soloists, setting poetry by Sappho, Jeffrey Duban and Sara Teasdale, that might make … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology | Tagged Claude Debussy, Constantine Caravassilis, From Sappho’s Lyre, Pierre Louÿs, Sappho, Sara Teasdale, Tallinna Kammerorkester | Leave a comment

Chamber Works by Robert Müller-Hartmann from ARC Ensemble

Posted on December 3, 2023 by barczablog

For the fan of chamber music seeking something beautiful but unlike their usual music, for the collector who needs something new and different, this is an ideal gift. About a year ago I was thrilled to attend a concert by … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology | Tagged ARC Ensemble, Erika Raum, Kevin Ahfat, Marie Bérard, Music in Exile, Ralph Vaughan Williams, RCM, Robert Müller-Hartmann, Royal Conservatory of Music, Simon Wynberg, Steven Dann, Thomas Wiebe | Leave a comment

Mahler, Berg and more at the EJB Library

Posted on November 26, 2023 by barczablog

Thursday Nov 23rd felt like a Thanksgiving celebration. I found a free parking spot on Bernard for one hour. The first 15 minutes were spent walking down Bedford Rd & then Philosopher’s Walk to the Edward Johnson Building for my … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, University life | Tagged Alban Berg, Alexander Dobson, Edward Johnson Building Library, Gustav Mahler, Jay Lambie, University of Toronto | Leave a comment

Mahler’s Fifth and Berg’s early songs

Posted on November 24, 2023 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s program for this week is a surprisingly powerful combination. We open with 17 minutes of passionate singing by mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, seven songs composed by Alban Berg (1885-1935) between 1905 and 1908. After intermission we settle in … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alban Berg, David Robertson, Emily D'Angelo, Gustav Mahler, Leonard Bernstein, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony | 2 Comments

Remembrance Day lessons from Mr Bull and Barkley

Posted on November 12, 2023 by barczablog

I played the organ at Hillcrest Church last Sunday. Some years All Saints (November 1st) and Remembrance Day (November 11th) get separate commemorations. In 2023 Remembrance Day (Nov 11th) falls on a Saturday, making it logical to combine the All … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged Barkley, Eternal Father Strong to Save, For All the Saints, Hillcrest Church, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Remembrance Day, Stewart H Bull, University of Toronto Schools | 4 Comments

Toronto Symphony’s virtuoso Beethoven

Posted on October 26, 2023 by barczablog

Last night’s Toronto Symphony concert titled “Beethoven’s Seventh” was another chance to watch the ongoing romance between the TSO and their new music director Gustavo Gimeno. Whether it’s a love of Beethoven or delight in the ongoing lovefest between orchestra … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Gustavo Gimeno, Gyorgy Ligeti, Jonathan Crow, Ludwig van Beethoven, Olga Neuwirth, Roy Thomson Hall, Tansy Davies, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, TSO | Leave a comment

Apocryphonia: GinasterAmirov

Posted on October 2, 2023 by barczablog

When I interviewed Alex Cappellazzo a few weeks ago I asked: what does “Apocryphonia” mean? But tonight I found myself thinking about another question (and seeing the answer before me), namely what do we understand by “authenticity?” It came up … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alberto Ginastera, Alexander Cappellazzo, Apocryphonia, Fikret Amirov, Narmina Afandiyeva, Sevil, Thera Barclay | Leave a comment

Tafelmusik Beethoven 4 and 5

Posted on September 25, 2023 by barczablog

Tafelmusik launched their 45th season with a concert titled “Beethoven 4 and 5“ at Koerner Hall, perhaps in echo of their anniversary. We not only heard a wonderful concert, but witnessed a moving reunion between the ensemble and their regular … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Bruno Weil, Koerner Hall, Ludwig van Beethoven, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra | Leave a comment

TSO Rite of Spring, making a statement

Posted on September 22, 2023 by barczablog

You know you’re at a special concert when you can’t identify the highlight, between pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet’s flashy reading of the Gershwin Concerto in F before intermission, or an overwhelming Rite of Spring filling Roy Thomson Hall with sound. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Franz Liszt, George Gershwin, Gustavo Gimeno, Igor Stravinsky, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lili Boulanger, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, TSO | Leave a comment