Category Archives: Opera

Carmen Encore

Posted on April 29, 2016 by barczablog

The second cast in the Canadian Opera Company’s Carmen production directed by Joel Ivany brought us into a more realistic world than what we’d seen in the opening night’s cast. This is a cast that’s physically beautiful, from the heroic … Continue reading →

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A Carmen that ends differently

Posted on April 18, 2016 by barczablog

When I’ve missed opening night I try desperately to avoid reading other reviews, a sort of anxiety of influence. Social media makes it tough when you see headlines proclaiming the brilliance of that show: as I saw on Facebook concerning Joel … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera | 1 Comment

Famous tunes at the TSO

Posted on April 11, 2016 by barczablog

And the beat goes on. While there may have been a change of leadership, the Toronto Symphony hot streak continues, with bold performances onstage & at the box office. Sunday afternoon I attended the second of a pair of concerts … Continue reading →

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Lucio Silla: slaying the tyrant at the Elgin Theatre

Posted on April 10, 2016 by barczablog

Tonight I saw Opera Atelier’s Lucio Silla, an opera receiving its Canadian premiere production at the Elgin Theatre. I’ve wondered what was so special about this opera, having heard about previous Opera Atelier presentations of the work in Europe, and … Continue reading →

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Questions for Ashlie Corcoran: Löhle’s das ding

Posted on April 7, 2016 by barczablog

Ashlie Corcoran, Artistic Director at the Thousand Islands Playhouse since 2012, Co-Founder and Artistic Producer for Theatre Smash, directs both theatre and opera, working across Canada and internationally. Next season Ashlie will return to Toronto to direct the Canadian Opera … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | 1 Comment

Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt

Posted on April 3, 2016 by barczablog

I saw the second of two performances in the world premiere run of Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt, a new opera composed by Peter Togni from a libretto by Sharon Singer, presented by Opera in Concert – Voicebox. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 4 Comments

Travelogue, or Bicycle Opera take Toy Piano Composers for a ride

Posted on April 3, 2016 by barczablog

If you can judge a book by its cover – or a small performing arts company by its poetic name – then it’s a match made in heaven, this idea for Travelogue: a collaboration between Bicycle Opera Project (opera with … Continue reading →

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Questions for Peter Togni: Isis and Osiris

Posted on March 15, 2016 by barczablog

Peter Togni, a well-known name from his time on the CBC, also known as Peter-Anthony Togni, is a busy Canadian composer of spiritually rooted and contemplative music. You can read a detailed biography here.  Originally from Pembroke, Ontario, he currently … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Knocking at the Hellgate

Posted on March 13, 2016 by barczablog

While the Toronto Symphony has been doing New Creations Festival for a dozen years or so, things seem substantially different in 2016.  One of the comments I sometimes hear from my colleagues is a concern that when so many of … Continue reading →

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Opera as blood sport: the Hutcheons contra Regietheater

Posted on March 5, 2016 by barczablog

I raced at top speed, not from jungle to city but from one end of the U of T campus to the other after work, afraid I’d be late for the (lecture about) opera, somewhat like the hero of Werner … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Opera, University life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment