Category Archives: Opera

Lucretia: a messed up kind of story for a messed up time

Posted on July 23, 2016 by barczablog

Sometimes one escapes from the real world in the theatre, diverted from life. And sometimes theatre is such a perfect mirror that it reminds us of the craziness we’re seeing everywhere else. That latter choice –finding the craziness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

Questions for Emma Char

Posted on July 17, 2016 by barczablog

Born in Kitchener – Waterloo, Ontario and raised in the Philadelphia area, Emma Char (who holds dual U.S. and Canadian Citizenship and currently resides in Toronto) recently crossed the border back to Canada to make debuts with Opéra de Montréal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 1 Comment

A new Jussi Björling recording, 57 years later

Posted on July 2, 2016 by barczablog

The headline isn’t a mistake nor a figure of speech. Swedish tenor Jussi Björling is one of my favourite singers.  As a child, it was his recordings of the great arias and duets that I usually encountered first, often spoiling … Continue reading →

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Aida by Request

Posted on June 26, 2016 by barczablog

I am doing something I’m not supposed to do.  I went to a concert more or less having made up my mind what I was going to say before the first note sounded.  It’s not because I’m prejudiced and lacking … Continue reading →

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Good-time Fledermaus from Opera 5

Posted on June 10, 2016 by barczablog

Let’s set aside the yard-sticks of excellence that critics use.  I went to see Die Fledermaus tonight in its new immersive Opera 5 Production. Although I was the designated driver I was totally immersed. It was fun even though I … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Tapestry’s Winner

Posted on May 28, 2016 by barczablog

The DH Lawrence short story The Rocking Horse Winner is a recognizable image of modern life. I’m sad to say that I know people like this mother for whom no amount of money is ever enough, whose son’s mysterious gift … Continue reading →

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Cozy Fantastic

Posted on May 14, 2016 by barczablog

I knew how it was going to work. I resisted and was still swept away by the conceptual brilliance of A Little too Cozy, Against the Grain’s latest transladaptation. Don’t let the word scare you, it merely means something that … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Popular music & culture, Reviews | 4 Comments

Braid or CASP at RBA

Posted on May 5, 2016 by barczablog

Art-song?  The concept didn’t immediately blow me away as a child growing up in the same house with an opera singer, craving the full-out commitment of opera.  The pleasures on record were sometimes esoteric and fleeting.  I think I grew … Continue reading →

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Maometto II, Conquerer

Posted on May 2, 2016 by barczablog

That was a fast three hours and twenty minutes. While I expected Maometto II, the Rossini opera presented by the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre, to be full of spectacular singing, I did not expect to be … Continue reading →

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Lucretia’s Rape: “Is it all”?

Posted on May 1, 2016 by barczablog

If you go see a show and it mystifies you, thank God for the internet to answer questions. And that’s the last thing I’ll say in this review that sounds even a little bit reverent. When I was a young … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments