Category Archives: Opera

Garden of Vanished Pleasures aka the poetry of Derek Jarman

Posted on September 24, 2021 by barczablog

I wondered whether one needs to know Derek Jarman, as I watched Garden of Vanished Pleasures for the first time. It’s the new Soundtreams Online Broadcast through Crow’s Theatre that is available from now until October 10th. I wondered whether … Continue reading →

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Question marks about the COC’s winter & spring season

Posted on September 20, 2021 by barczablog

I’ve seen some disgruntled responses in social media to the announcement of the Canadian Opera Company offerings for early 2022. The COC are offering nine performances of Madama Butterfly in February, then seven shows each of La Traviata & Magic … Continue reading →

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Encounter with Donald Arthur

Posted on September 17, 2021 by barczablog

I met Donald Arthur through the Toronto Wagner Society, our guest after publication of the memoirs he translated & edited for Hans Hotter, the great Wagner baritone. I jumped at the chance to offer Donald a bed overnight in our … Continue reading →

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Who was Derek Jarman

Posted on September 14, 2021 by barczablog

I don’t know Derek Jarman as well as I wish. But I’m presuming to offer some thoughts in answer to a question posed on Soundstreams’ blog a few days ago. I recall Jarman’s contribution to the anthology Aria (1987). The … Continue reading →

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A conversation with Doug MacNaughton

Posted on August 16, 2021 by barczablog

Doug MacNaughton is known as much for his acting as for his singing, at home in opera, operetta, music theatre and concert work. As powerful as he sounds in ONE DAY MORE Doug also has the ability to use his … Continue reading →

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Opera season

Posted on August 16, 2021 by barczablog

Rabbit season? Duck season? Nope in a few weeks it will be opera season, and not just in Toronto. Thank goodness we don’t have to hear Elmer Fudd try to say “opera season”. That’s right, they really will be shooting … Continue reading →

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COC Fall Season announcement

Posted on August 16, 2021 by barczablog

CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY CONNECTS ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES THROUGH FREE, DIGITAL PROGRAMMING Purpose-produced fall lineup features monthly offerings recorded at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, including new production of Gianni Schicchi Toronto – The Canadian Opera Company is … Continue reading →

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Opera coming out of the pandemic

Posted on July 20, 2021 by barczablog

We weren’t permitted to go to live theatre. Performers have struggled with the loss of income, companies evaluating their business models as they contemplate the future. It remains to be seen just what impacts will be felt upon opera, the … Continue reading →

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Savitri

Posted on July 5, 2021 by barczablog

Gustav Holst’s one act chamber opera Savitri is available from Against the Grain theatre (aka “AtG”) as an online film. They offer it free of charge from their website, while inviting you to make an optional contribution to the company. … Continue reading →

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Nixon in China, 2021

Posted on July 4, 2021 by barczablog

The Metropolitan Opera feed of free streaming performances celebrate American composers the week of July 4th Independence Day. I was especially excited to get another look at John Adams’s Nixon in China, that we saw both via a production by … Continue reading →

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