Category Archives: Opera

Questions for Peter Hinton concerning his Revisionist Riel

Posted on April 20, 2017 by barczablog

Director, dramaturg and playwright Peter Hinton has worked across Canada with many theatre companies. He has been the Associate Artistic Director at Theatre Passe Muraille and the Canadian Stage Company in Toronto, Artistic Director of the Playwrights Theatre Centre in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Politics | 3 Comments

Dialogue on use of Indigenous Songs in Canadian Compositions, hosted by COC

Posted on April 12, 2017 by barczablog

In a press release, the Canadian Opera Company have announced a closed meeting on April 19th –the eve of the premiere of their new co-production of Louis Riel—to discuss “First Nations song protocol and the use of Indigenous songs in … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Press Releases and Announcements | 2 Comments

Robert Lepage speaks white in 887

Posted on April 8, 2017 by barczablog

Although I missed Robert Lepage’s 887 the first time it came to Toronto in 2015 (during the Pan Am Games) I’m glad I was able to see it today with Canadian Stage at the Bluma Appel, in a short run … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics | 3 Comments

Raiders: Williams & the matter of popularity

Posted on March 30, 2017 by barczablog

The recent fad for films with live accompaniment is shining a light on artistry that has often languished in obscurity.  Oh sure, film music composers are well paid, especially someone like John Williams, composer of the score for Raiders of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

Beyond Reason: Wagner contra Nietzsche

Posted on March 25, 2017 by barczablog

I finished my previous book last night (They Can’t Kill Us All). I began the review of that fascinating book—filled with the keen-eyed observations of Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery—by a kind of apologetic preamble about my life in fantasyland, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Politics | 1 Comment

Moses,Aaron, and a few others at TIFF

Posted on March 13, 2017 by barczablog

Today TIFF presented two musically-oriented films from their Straub-Huillet retrospective, introduced with a live performance by Against the Grain Theatre. AtG have boldly gone where opera has not often gone before, taking their productions into bars, TV studios, and now … Continue reading →

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

Louis Riel returns to Canadian Opera Company

Posted on March 9, 2017 by barczablog

LOUIS RIEL RETURNS TO CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY WITH  INCLUSIVE AND EXPANSIVE HISTORY RESTORED A Contentious and Provocative Celebratory Work to Honour Canada’s History Toronto – Canadian history comes to life on the stage of the Four Seasons Centre for the … Continue reading →

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

Immolation Nation

Posted on February 26, 2017 by barczablog

The morning after the end of the world feels pretty good, especially if you’re one of the little people and not one of the old gods swept aside. I am not Barack or Hillary, just one of the little people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

An Evening with the Ensemble Studio

Posted on February 24, 2017 by barczablog

Institutions are like buildings. They have structures.  They’re solid, which means they resist change, and offer shelter to those who rely upon them. A change in an institution may be bewildering and hard to understand, but is ultimately inevitable, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Leave a comment

Kindred Spirits in Markham

Posted on February 12, 2017 by barczablog

At the risk of saying something really obvious: there’s a great deal of music going on in Toronto, and all around the city too.  I ventured just north of the city to one of several community venues, the charming 527 … Continue reading →

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