Category Archives: Opera

Opera Atelier Alcina

Posted on October 26, 2014 by barczablog

I’ve seen the new Opera Atelier Alcina. It’s been a month of opera-going in Toronto that already stands head and shoulders above any previous month. While occasional productions can be great, we can add this remarkable production of Handel’s opera … Continue reading →

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Alcina preview at RBA

Posted on October 14, 2014 by barczablog

The season of Thanksgiving continues, as I feel extraordinarily blessed for the wonderful day I am having. Not only did I have my three best nights in the theatre since the beginning of October (two performances of Falstaff and one … Continue reading →

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A Butterfly with laughter and tears

Posted on October 12, 2014 by barczablog

It’s like no Madama Butterfly I’ve ever seen. The new Canadian Opera Company production is really the same one they’ve been staging for years, yet very different in its new incarnation. There are two parallel casts performing Puccini’s intercultural tear-jerker … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Elizabeth DeShong

Posted on October 11, 2014 by barczablog

Elizabeth DeShong is singing big roles in the biggest houses. She’s sung Suzuki (the role she’s singing in a Canadian Opera Company production that’s opening tonight at the Four Seasons Centre) at the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera Company, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | 3 Comments

Falstaff’s Communion

Posted on October 10, 2014 by barczablog

I saw the second performance of the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Falstaff tonight, enjoying it even more than the first time. Where my first view was from up in ring 3—ideal to get the big picture but too far … Continue reading →

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Gerald Finley is Falstaff

Posted on October 4, 2014 by barczablog

Every time Gerald Finley takes on the role of Falstaff it means’ a two hour makeup ordeal .  Finley is like a classier version of Mike Myers’ “Fat Bastard”, and yet so much more. Falstaff? Yes he is Shakespeare’s fat man, a bad … Continue reading →

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Paride ed Elena: birthday celebrations for Gluck & Essential Opera

Posted on September 28, 2014 by barczablog

Ambition is a good thing, especially from an opera company.  There will always be Bohemes and Carmens galore, but I especially love having the opportunity to see something new, as I did tonight in my encounter with Gluck’s Paride ed … Continue reading →

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They’re back: Ensemble Studio and COC concerts

Posted on September 24, 2014 by barczablog

The free noon-hour concerts at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre are back, and unfortunately, so’s the flu, as three of the young singers scheduled to sing today had to cancel. It ended up being six rather than nine arias, accompanied by … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Kelly Kaduce

Posted on September 20, 2014 by barczablog

I had the good luck to see Rusalka in Montreal in November 2011, starring Kelly Kaduce. In my review I said First and foremost, the production leans happily on soprano Kelly Kaduce, whose voice is always pleasant & in tune, … Continue reading →

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Baby Kintyre and some thoughts on popular operas

Posted on September 16, 2014 by barczablog

A few weeks ago, John Gilks shared some thoughts about “that elusive new audience”,  in response to assertions by some that the “ small innovative companies create a significant audience for the larger companies”.  It may be so, although John’s essay looked … Continue reading →

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