Category Archives: Opera

Voicebox Opera in Concert’s Canadian premiere of Richard Coeur-de-Lion

Posted on November 16, 2025 by barczablog

Today I witnessed the Canadian premiere of André Grétry’s Richard Coeur-de-Lion, presented by Voicebox: Opera in Concert at the Jeanne Lamon Hall. Colin Ainsworth was singing the title role, but was indisposed, courageously singing the role but often dropping to … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alice Macgregor, André Grétry, classical-music, Colin Ainsworth, Diane Loeb, Fidelio, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Jeanne Lamon Hall, Madeline Cooper, music, Nicole Katerberg, Opera in Concert Chorus, rescue opera, Richard Coeur-de-Lion, Robert Cooper, Suzy Smith, Taylor Gibbs, Voicebox Opera in Concert, Yannik Gosselin | Leave a comment

Kyle and Corey reflect on the Lion-hearted King and the operas telling their stories

Posted on November 4, 2025 by barczablog

Kyle & Corey, as in Kyle Derek Mcdonald and Corey Arnold are the two creators of The Lion Heart, an opera being presented in concert in Ottawa November 15-16, one of several things they’re doing. I wanted to ask Kyle … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Opera | Tagged classical-music, Corey Arnold, Ethandun, Kyle Derek McDonald, Kyle McDonald, Mathew Li, music, Philip Klaassen, Possession, Richard I, Richard Wagner, Samuel Andreyev, Scott Thompson, The Lion Heart, theatre, William G. Carpenter | Leave a comment

Mikado worthy of revisit

Posted on October 27, 2025 by barczablog

I took Erika to see the Toronto Operetta Theatre’s The Mikado Revisited at the Jane Mallett Sunday afternoon, wanting to escape from the world. Other than the usual topical jokes (and what’s Gilbert & Sullivan without references to current events) … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Gilbert and Sullivan, Gregory Finney, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Jane Mallett Theatre, Karen Bojti, Madeline Cooper, Marcus Tranquilli, Narmina Afandiyeva, Stuart Graham, Toronto Operetta Theatre | Leave a comment

Another look at Roméo et Juliette as a departure point for reflections on criticism & dramaturgy

Posted on October 19, 2025 by barczablog

This has been a bit of a bewildering week, astonishing contrasts. I repeat my self-fulfilling mantra “I am a lucky guy,” grateful for what I’ve experienced. Wednesday was Opera Atelier’s Magic Flute, Thursday Tapestry Briefs Under Where, Friday was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Essays, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Against the Grain, Amy Lane, Charles Gounod, Colin Ainsworth, criticism, dramaturgy, Eugene Onegin, Hector Berlioz, Holly Chaplin, Kseniia Proshina, Magic Flute, Opera Atelier, Opera Revue, Orfeo ed Euridice, Romeo and Juliet, Tapestry Briefs, testimony | 2 Comments

Tapestry Briefs: under where?

Posted on October 17, 2025 by barczablog

I had my first look at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre on Yonge St Thursday night with the first of Tapestry Opera’s experimental programs, titled “Tapestry Briefs: under where?” Cute title, right? I was in the audience for … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | Tagged comedy, Michael Hidetoshi Mori, saturday night live, Tapestry Briefs, Tapestry Opera, theatre | Leave a comment

Opera Atelier’s beautiful Magic Flute returns to the Elgin Theatre

Posted on October 16, 2025 by barczablog

Opera Atelier are back with the Magic Flute for their fall season at the Elgin Theatre, doing what they do best, in the first of four performances at the Elgin Theatre Wednesday October 15th. Accompanied by Tafelmusik Orchestra who play … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Blaise Rantoanina, Carla Huhtanen, Colin Ainsworth, Danielle MacMillan, David Fallis, Dora Rust d'Eye, Douglas Williams, Elgin Theatre, Emanuel Schikaneder, Gerard Gauci, historically informed performance, Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, Karine White, Laura Pudwell, Marshall Pynkoski, Meghan Lindsay, Michael Gianfrancesco, Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Opera Atelier, Pelleas et Melisande, Rainelle Krause, Stephen Hegedus, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment

Superb Orfeo revival

Posted on October 13, 2025 by barczablog

I was delighted by the Canadian Opera Company revival of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice Saturday at the Four Seasons Centre. Although I thought I liked it well enough when I saw it in 2011 I never expected the gushing tears … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Anna-Sophie Neher, Bernard Labadie, Canadian Opera Company, Catherine St-Arnaud, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Christophe Gayra, classical-music, Four Seasons Centre, Iestyn Davies, music, opera, Orfeo ed Euridice, Ranieri de' Calzabigi, reform opera, review, Robert Carsen, Sandra Horst | Leave a comment

William Shookhoff discusses political operas: Menotti’s The Consul from Opera By Request

Posted on October 10, 2025 by barczablog

Opera by Request will be presenting Giancarlo Menotti’s The Consul, an opera premiered in 1950 during the Red Scare, a time with significant parallels to our own. I asked William (Bill) Shookhoff, the Artistic Director of OBR, about the project. … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Politics, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Brigitte Bogar, Brittany Stewart, College Street United Church, Giancarlo Menotti, Human Rights organizations, Joshua Read, Julia MacVicar, Karina Bray, Kenneth Baker, Lucas Kuipers, Monica Zerbe, music, opera, Opera by Request, Politics, Red Scare, Sebastien Belcourt, Taylor Gibbs, The Consul, William Shookhoff | Leave a comment

COC’s highly original Roméo et Juliette

Posted on October 6, 2025 by barczablog

It might be the best-known of all Shakespeare stories, the star-crossed lovers, dying young for love. Romeo and Juliet becomes Roméo et Juliette when a French composer such as Charles Gounod (1867) is telling the story in music. The rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alex Hetherington, Amy Lane, Canadian Opera Company, Charles Gounod, Gordon Bintner, Jules Barbier, Kseniia Proshina, Megan Latham, Michel Carré, music, opera, Owen McCausland, Robert Lepage, Robert Pomakov, Roméo et Juliette, Romeo and Juliet, Sandra Horst, Stephen Costello, surtitles, theatre, Yves Abel | 2 Comments

Over 800 meals from Boheme On Tap for Daily Bread Food Bank

Posted on September 20, 2025 by barczablog

I have a new perspective on Puccini’s opera since attending La Boheme On Tap last night at the Redwood Theatre, although watching Moonstruck last week while interviewing a couple of the participants highlighted the contrast. Yes Mimi lives in poverty, … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Hajek, Andrew Tees, Ann Cooper Gay, Brahm Goldhamer, Daily Bread Food Bank, Dylan Wright, Giacomo Puccini, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Henry Ingram, Holly Chaplin, Joel Ricci, Kathryn Rose Johnston, La boheme, La Boheme On Tap, Moonstruck, Opera Revue, Peter Barcza, Redwood Theatre, Ryan Hofman | Leave a comment