Category Archives: My mother

Celebration of life for my mother

Posted on July 12, 2025 by barczablog

July 10th would have been my mother’s 104th birthday, so it seemed like the perfect day to do a Celebration of Life. I want to share the moment here on the blog, largely because this event was my focus, if … Continue reading →

Posted in My mother, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

First Mother’s Day since my mother passed away

Posted on May 12, 2025 by barczablog

I played the organ at Hillcrest Church Sunday, substituting for David Warrack. It was Mother’s Day, the first Mother’s Day since my mom passed away. I played one of her favourite melodies as the Offertory. Ack Värmeland du sköna is … Continue reading →

Posted in My mother, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Missa Solemnis from Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony

Posted on April 5, 2025 by barczablog

Friday April 4th the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir conducted by Jean-Sébastien Vallée presented Beethoven’s glorious Missa Solemnis to a partially – full Roy Thomson Hall. The Missa Solemnis is a perfect showcase for JS and his impeccable baton work leading this … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, My mother, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Auspicious beginning to (unofficial) TSO Beethoven festival

Posted on January 23, 2025 by barczablog

This week the Toronto Symphony offer the first in a series of concerts featuring the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most popular and best loved of all classical composers. Wednesday night’s performances were a brilliant start. No … Continue reading →

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My mother

Posted on December 30, 2024 by barczablog

There is so much I can say about Katherine Barcza, born in 1921, although I will let the pictures speak. My mom used to light a candle on December 30th on the anniversary of my father’s passing in 1960, exactly … Continue reading →

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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

Study Acting with Cynthia Ashperger

Posted on January 17, 2024 by barczablog

This is both a trip down memory lane and an attempt to promote some acting classes. When I saw that Cynthia Ashperger is offering acting classes my first impulse was to check my schedule. I’ve worked with her before as … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, My mother, Press Releases and Announcements, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Telling stories of dogs and gods

Posted on January 19, 2023 by barczablog

Anecdotes are one sort of story. For example I heard that in 2020 COVID caused a surge in canine adoptions. Later I heard there was a flood in reverse, dogs being given up when people changed their minds. No I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, My mother | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rebuilding Janise: Andrew Smith’s labour of love

Posted on July 24, 2022 by barczablog

The cover picture is a disturbing metaphor for its subject. In 1992 Andrew and Janise were married. This poem “What Once Was”, is by Andrew Smith, posted in July 2022 on Facebook. what once was; is so long ago.two fools, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Food, Health and Nutrition, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Toronto Choral Society – Mozart Requiem

Posted on May 26, 2022 by barczablog

I had my first experience with Toronto Choral Society last night at Eastminster United Church on Danforth. Holly Chaplin’s page on Facebook (where my review of the weekend opera was shared) told me that she and Joshua Clemenger (also in … Continue reading →

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