Category Archives: Opera

Le Barbier de Séville à l’Opéra de Québec

Posted on May 30, 2021 by barczablog

I watched the premiere of an online concert version of Barber of Seville, available until June 12th. It’s semi-staged, meaning that you watch the cast perform the opera in formal attire, Figaro miming shaving Bartolo, the lights flashing for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Melisande and Sam

Posted on May 28, 2021 by barczablog

The picture is a bit of whimsy, Sam seeming to float with the flower. If you don’t have your glasses on (hello! That was how I took the photo), the alignment of dog + flower is much easier to do, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Art, Architecture & Design, Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hermione Lee: Tom Stoppard A Life

Posted on May 16, 2021 by barczablog

I’m humbled reading Hermione Lee’s biography of Tom Stoppard. I was exalted by Alex Ross’s colossal Wagnerism study because I’m a typical grandiose Wagnerian, thinking I know something about the topic. Its 784 pages flew by, the book flattering my … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Perryn Leech comes to the COC

Posted on April 28, 2021 by barczablog

I am disoriented. The end of April? Time for taxes, to plant & nurture the garden. And to renew my subscription to the Canadian Opera Company before the end of the month. But it’s so weird. Normally their new season … Continue reading →

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American Idol and popularity

Posted on April 13, 2021 by barczablog

Do you ever watch American Idol? I’d say it’s the best reality tv that you can find, unless you prefer one of the other performance shows where people sing or dance. There are really two parts to it. At the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quilico and Pavarotti in Rigoletto

Posted on April 12, 2021 by barczablog

The Metropolitan Opera’s free feed gave us a lovely trip down memory lane last week, with a 1981 Rigoletto starring Louis Quilico, Luciano Pavarotti and Christiane Eda-Pierre. I can’t be the only one who watched, remembering the times Quilico sang … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

SFO Rheingold

Posted on March 8, 2021 by barczablog

As I ponder the future of streaming performances & concerts, I’m checking out Wagner’s Ring Cycle as produced by the San Francisco Opera in 2018 in their co-production with the Washington Opera. If you go to https://sfopera.com/opera-is-on/ you choose between … Continue reading →

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Techno-salvation, or a real Canadian Opera Company / National Ballet of Canada

Posted on March 7, 2021 by barczablog

The pandemic has offered a measure of clarity to the world of performing arts. Artists have been knocked for a loop by the lost pay due to gigs that couldn’t happen. Businesses are badly messed up by lost revenues, wondering … Continue reading →

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We Interrupt This Program: A Conversation with Amplified Opera

Posted on March 4, 2021 by barczablog

The co-founders of Amplified Opera invite you to join them in conversation as they discuss their organization, their new appointment as Disruptor-in-Residence at the Canadian Opera Company, the complexities of the opera industry, and their views on the role the … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Leave a comment

Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada to receive government support for digital infrastructure

Posted on February 18, 2021 by barczablog

Toronto – In an announcement made this morning by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Opera Company will receive $644,372 in crucial funding provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund toward the Digital Infrastructure Enhancements Project at the Four … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | 2 Comments