Category Archives: Opera

Questions for Tracy Dahl

Posted on April 19, 2018 by barczablog

In the recent Canadian Opera Company Cosi fan tutte from just over 4 years ago, Tracy Dahl’s sparkling portrayal of Despina was the breath of fresh air that we desperately needed in Atom Egoyan’s dark intense interpretation. Here’s what I … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Leave a comment

Hockey Noir: A bilingual Chamber Opera in 3 Periods

Posted on April 18, 2018 by barczablog

May 10–11, 2018, 8 pm Jane Mallet Theatre St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts 27 Front Street East, Toronto, ON, CA,M5E 1B4 MAP BUY TICKETS Continuum is thrilled to present our first full-scale multimedia opera in this special collaboration. Set in the 1950s, … Continue reading →

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The Nightingale is back

Posted on April 15, 2018 by barczablog

There’s another signature production for the Canadian Opera Company.  At one time it was Robert Lepage’s double bill of Bluebeard’s Castle & Erwartung but I think a more recent Lepage opus has at least joined it, if not taken its … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance at the RBA

Posted on April 11, 2018 by barczablog

It’s interesting that on consecutive days, the Canadian Opera Company gave their noon-hour concert in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre over to a performance resembling an act of remembrance. Yesterday was Jeremy Dutcher’s concert, in which he seemed to address the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | 1 Comment

The Overcoat: a musical tailoring

Posted on March 30, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve just seen the premiere of a new opera from James Rolfe & Morris Panych adapting Gogol’s story “The Overcoat”. There’s much to admire, and frankly I feel like saying “it’s about time.” Opera is often bogged down in virtuoso … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

Davies’ Ecstasy of Rita Joe

Posted on March 26, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve just seen Victor Davies’ adaptation of George Ryga’s 1967 play The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, a very faithful treatment of Ryga’s work, the world premiere production in Toronto. As a result we’re in a funny place culturally with this … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Politics, Reviews | 3 Comments

Sirett, Koniuk & Oriana: romance on the road

Posted on March 11, 2018 by barczablog

This weekend I went out of town to see a concert while processing this weekend’s great tempo rubato. Daylight Savings Time appropriates an hour from our lives that will only be given back half a year from now. I figured … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Leave a comment

Questions for Victor Davies: The Ecstasy of Rita Joe

Posted on March 7, 2018 by barczablog

Victor Davies is a Canadian composer whose work I have previously encountered in Toronto productions. His adaptation of Wilde’s comedy (in partnership with librettist Eugene Benson), called Earnest, The Importance of Being came to Toronto Operetta Theatre in 2015 (originally … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Politics, University life | 1 Comment

Incendies, Scorched & the Seraglio

Posted on February 28, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve just seen Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar nominated film adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad’s play Incendies. I’m looking forward to seeing a translation of the play presented here in Toronto next week, titled Scorched. I couldn’t miss the parallels to what we … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Politics, University life | 3 Comments

Vanderdecken among the zombies: Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction

Posted on February 25, 2018 by barczablog

I had a second look & listen to Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction from the Seraglio,  my second time coming in the closing performance of the run with the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre. I wanted to reflect on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, University life | 5 Comments