Category Archives: Opera

Ten Questions for Nik Beeson

Posted on July 23, 2015 by barczablog

Nik Beeson is a digital communicator & electro-acoustic composer, and completely new to me. I’ve been listening to the CD for DIVE: Odes for Lighea at the encouragement of Alex Fallis, who will be directing the project in its premiere July … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Remembering Jon Vickers, Canadian Heldentenor

Posted on July 12, 2015 by barczablog

There have been two singers above all the others who mattered to me as I grew up. Both were tenors.  I’ve talked about Jussi Björling, my touchstone of vocal perfection and the subject of a recent pilgrimage in Sweden. The other … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

The Hutcheons launch Four Last Songs with, what else: singing

Posted on June 17, 2015 by barczablog

When multi-disciplinary authors launch a book, you see people from many places & walks of life.  Whatever else you might say about Linda & Michael Hutcheon, they know some very cool people.  I saw singers, librarians, academics from several departments, … Continue reading →

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

#AtGdeathdesire: more desire than death

Posted on June 3, 2015 by barczablog

If yesterday’s Dora announcement is anything to go by the youthful Against the Grain crew are a force to be reckoned with, as they’re up for several awards. Tonight AtG opened their latest, Death & Desire. Reading the lists of … Continue reading →

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Operatic Doras

Posted on June 2, 2015 by barczablog

Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate excellence.  They serve to promote individuals and their performances, while also raising the profile of an entire industry.  I hope that nothing I say here in any way diminishes the work done by … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

Toronto Consort—a new Play of Daniel

Posted on May 23, 2015 by barczablog

I saw something brand-new, from the 12th century. It’s one of the ironies of theatre or music that sometimes recent works give you comparatively little room for invention, every page stipulating how it must be interpreted. If you want real … Continue reading →

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Andrew Davis – Verdi Requiem

Posted on May 22, 2015 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony are celebrating a 40 year relationship with Sir Andrew Davis, their one-time music director (from 1975-1988) and currently their Conductor Laureate, with a series of concerts over the next couple of weeks. Tonight’s concert featured Verdi’s Requiem, … Continue reading →

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Is #AtGdeathdesire a new genre?

Posted on May 21, 2015 by barczablog

The word “new” is getting old pretty fast.  It’s used every time we encounter something a bit different. Nowadays everything is either retro, new or some combination of the two.  I am hesitant about using the word in the headline … Continue reading →

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

Four Last Songs: aging, creativity and the meaning of life

Posted on May 18, 2015 by barczablog

The cover picture shows Giuseppe Verdi sitting with a reflective expression on his face while he plays the piano. The book’s title is Four Last Songs: Aging and Creativity in Verdi, Strauss, Messiaen and Britten, the latest collaboration between Linda … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ensemble Barber an initiation

Posted on May 16, 2015 by barczablog

This was my third look at the Canadian Opera Company Barber of Seville but through a very particular lens. Each season the COC gives over one of their performances to their Ensemble Studio, the talented young singers who are serving … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments