Category Archives: Opera

Mr Turner: painter, paintings, movie

Posted on November 7, 2015 by barczablog

There is a scene in the first half hour of Mike Leigh’s recent film Mr Turner, juxtaposing the creative ambitions of amateurs and professionals. We see Timothy Spall as Turner, greeting a noble on his estate. Another person –likely another … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

13 ways of looking at Pyramus and Thisbe

Posted on November 6, 2015 by barczablog

If a scientist could slice up love and loss into small specimens and put them onto slides and put them under a microscope it would resemble what we saw at the Four Seasons Centre tonight and in earlier performances from … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

Mezzo madness at the COC Ensemble Studio Competition

Posted on November 4, 2015 by barczablog

Centre Stage 2015, the Canadian Opera Company’s ensemble competition gala, was a celebration of Canada & Canadian talent. Co-hosted by two former winners, we were treated to both official languages, thanks to Karine Boucher’s exquisite French pronunciation as a charming … Continue reading →

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Ideal Pyramus and Thisbe

Posted on October 25, 2015 by barczablog

There are several ways to approach opera composition & opera production. I would like to propose that there might be a polarity we could imagine between extremes, given that at least one of those options is entirely in the mind. … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The erotic agonies of Armide 2.0

Posted on October 23, 2015 by barczablog

Opera Atelier opened their 30th anniversary season with their latest take on Lully’s 17th century masterpiece Armide. They’ve done the work before, the greatest opera you’ve never seen.  Perhaps it isn’t performed as frequently as it deserves, but it is … Continue reading →

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

Embedded in Oshawa Opera

Posted on October 19, 2015 by barczablog

I spent an afternoon observing auditions for Oshawa Opera alongside Artistic Director Kristine Dandavino and Michael Robert-Broder.  For the AD, an extra set of eyes and ears offer additional perspectives.  Or as she herself said, she’s the one who makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 2 Comments

Enough tenors for now: COC 2015 Ensemble Studio Finalists

Posted on October 17, 2015 by barczablog

It should be no surprise that the eight finalists just announced for the the COC’s 2015 Ensemble Studio competition don’t contain any tenors in the group. No wonder, when last year the top three places in the competition went to tenors, … Continue reading →

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Tragic Canadians in Traviata

Posted on October 17, 2015 by barczablog

I had a second look at Arin Arbus’ production of Verdi’s La traviata for the Canadian Opera Company with a few cast changes. At the centre of this world is Joyce El-Khoury in the title role, opposite Andrew Haji as … Continue reading →

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10 questions for Peggy Kriha Dye: Armide

Posted on October 15, 2015 by barczablog

Soprano Peggy Kriha Dye has been one of the keys to Opera Atelier’s successes in Toronto, in the title roles of Armide (Toronto, Versailles, Glimmerglass Festival) and L’Incoronazione di Poppea, as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Ilia in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

10 questions for Andrew Haji

Posted on October 13, 2015 by barczablog

You may know tenor Andrew Haji as a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, for his appearances with the COC in the Ensemble Studio performance of The Barber of Seville (as Count Almaviva in May 2015), and Così … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments