Category Archives: Opera

10 questions for Margarete von Vaight

Posted on April 26, 2014 by barczablog

Serendipity is a funny thing. A few days ago Canadian heldentenor Ben Heppner announced his retirement from singing after one of the most extraordinary careers.  At the exact same time, I’ve been talking to Canadian soprano Margarete von Vaight, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged | 7 Comments

Radvanovsky’s Theatrical Elizabeth

Posted on April 26, 2014 by barczablog

The opera is called Roberto Devereux but don’t let that throw you.  The reason we’re there, the reason to see the Canadian Opera Company production of that aforementioned opera is for another character, namely Elisabetta, aka Queen Elizabeth. It’s a … Continue reading →

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Old with New

Posted on April 25, 2014 by barczablog

I was challenged to explain & even to defend something I love.  It was my second time seeing the Canadian Opera Company Hercules, accompanied by someone who prefers Puccini to Handel. Why this old story in modern dress?  Or rather, … Continue reading →

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10 Questions for Kate Applin

Posted on April 17, 2014 by barczablog

Toronto soprano Kate Applin founded Metro Youth Opera, a new opera company designed to create viable development opportunities for young artists in all fields related to the world of opera: singers, stage directors, music directors, and more. Holder of an … Continue reading →

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Looking at Lully

Posted on April 16, 2014 by barczablog

There are two departure points for this little excursion. 1) Opera Atelier’s Toronto revival of Persee opening next week 2) Joseph Kerman’s departure from the realm of the living, earlier this year. In Opera as Drama Kerman looks at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Fawn Opera: l’Homme et le Ciel

Posted on April 12, 2014 by barczablog

I witnessed a clinic on how to create buzz. Let’s review. Social media spread the word about L’Homme et le Ciel, an opera in progress from Fawn Opera.  This past week, the performers did a workshop, and then opened it … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Giasone: Back to the Future

Posted on April 7, 2014 by barczablog

What a weekend.  While I only managed to get to three things in three days (Tap:Ex Friday, Hercules Saturday, and Giasone today) I feel I’ve been to a symposium studying the possibilities for opera.  It’s a happy accident that the … Continue reading →

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Sellars’s Hercules

Posted on April 6, 2014 by barczablog

If I had a dime for every time I’ve seen an opera modernized via the use of modern military garb I could buy an opera subscription.  But someone was bound to make it work, right? I saw the Canadian Opera … Continue reading →

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Tapestry’s Revolutionary Questions

Posted on April 5, 2014 by barczablog

I apologized to Michael Mori –Tapestry Opera’s Artistic Director & the director of Tap:Ex Revolutions, the program that opened tonight at the Ernest Balmer Studio—after the show for what I knew was going to say.  Not critical words, but rather, … Continue reading →

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Hallelujah Sellars

Posted on March 29, 2014 by barczablog

Hallelujah Junction is: 1) A place. When John Adams went there –so he said recently—he figured that it would make a great title for… 2) A musical composition. And so it came to pass, a composition for two pianos. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments