Category Archives: Opera

Sympathy for the Bedevilled

Posted on May 26, 2013 by barczablog

It’s an odd week.  Since seeing the COC production of Dialogues des Carmelites I have the “Salve Regina” in my head, particularly the last two pages of the score, where Blanche appears.  I also hear the complementary sonorities of Ravel’s … Continue reading →

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Carsen Dialogues

Posted on May 24, 2013 by barczablog

I like to read a director’s notes before seeing a show, because they often contain clues about what you’re going to see. Robert Carsen’s take on Dialogues des Carmelites is a case in point. The production has been mounted all … Continue reading →

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Wagnerian Bicentennial

Posted on May 22, 2013 by barczablog

We’ve come to the first of the three important opera composer birthdays in 2013. May 22:  Richard Wagner’s bicentennial October 10:  Giuseppe Verdi’s bicentennial November 22: Benjamin Britten’s centennial You may prefer Britten’s operas. You may point to the box … Continue reading →

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Book of Dialogues

Posted on May 14, 2013 by barczablog

Momento #1 of that production I haven’t yet seen was the DVD.  I reviewed it a few weeks ago, fascinated to see Robert Carsen’s take on Poulenc’s opera Dialogues des Carmelites in its La Scala incarnation from 2004. I stumbled … Continue reading →

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

Stuart Hamilton: Opening Windows

Posted on March 10, 2013 by barczablog

I don’t believe there’s anyone who was involved in more aspects of Canadian operatic performance than Stuart Hamilton.  I say “was” because many of those are in the past now, but even so, let’s make a list. Hamilton founded Opera … Continue reading →

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Erlösung dem Erlöser

Posted on March 3, 2013 by barczablog

There have been many reviews published already, some in exquisite detail, so I assume that if you want to know about the new Metropolitan Opera Parsifal, the François Girard co-production with Opera Lyon (2012) & the Canadian Opera Company (TBA), … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | 4 Comments

Metropolitan Opera 2013-2014

Posted on February 27, 2013 by barczablog

Depending on your taste, there are good and bad things in Peter Gelb’s announcement of the 2013-2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera. I am most excited by an item that seems to currently be under the radar.  Dmitri Tcherniakov will … Continue reading →

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Pageants of Power

Posted on February 25, 2013 by barczablog

Whenever a new pair of presenters come out onto the stage at the Academy Awards, the pit band begins to play something suitable. Nobody does that when I walk into a room. I was thinking about this after reading some … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Opera, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Akhnaten in Indiana

Posted on February 24, 2013 by barczablog

It’s late at night.  It’s intermission, as I watch Philip Glass’s opera Akhnaten from Jacobs School of Music, at Indiana University, Bloomington, conducted by Arthur Fagen, directed by Candace Evans, and live-streamed on my laptop.  This student production is very … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews, University life | 7 Comments

Psychological portraits: Tito’s Rome

Posted on February 7, 2013 by barczablog

La Clemenza di Tito is not known the way the major operas of Mozart’s maturity are known and loved.  When I say Don Giovanni or Marriage of Figaro or Magic Flute there are tunes that instantly pop into my head … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Opera, Politics, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments