Category Archives: Opera

Questions for Alexander Hajek

Posted on January 19, 2024 by barczablog

I heard baritone Alexander Hajek singing at the Toronto Vocal Showcase 1.0 in August. He sang well. Full disclosure? I grew up accompanying my brother baritone Peter Barcza. I tend to be harshest with baritone voices ever since. So it … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Alexander Hajek, Claire Elise Harris, Da Ponte, Danie Friesen, Das Rheingold, Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi, Mozart, Opera Revue, Richard Wagner, Toronto Vocal Showcase 1.0, Warhammer | Leave a comment

Questions for Ryan Hofman, Singer and Outreach Officer

Posted on January 10, 2024 by barczablog

I was in the lobby of the Alumni Theatre waiting to get my tickets for Kyle McDonald’s Conan and the Stone of Kelior in May 2022. Ryan Hofman boldly introduced himself, telling me he’d encountered my brother at UBC when … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Andrew Ager, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, James Westman, New Opera Lyra, NOL, Opera York, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Ryan Hofman, SOLO, Southern Ontario Lyric Opera | Leave a comment

Adam Klein reflects on his operatic career (part 2): Peter Gelb, Robert Lepage and more

Posted on January 6, 2024 by barczablog

The reason I interviewed Adam Klein is interest: in his career, his opinions, and anything I might learn. I am a fan. Adam sang in the Lepage Ring, has been in a lot of shows at the Metropolitan Opera and elsewhere. … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Adam Klein, agism, Benjamin Zander, Das Rheingold, Gandhi, Leonardo da Vinci, Little Match Girl, Loge, lookism, Mark Down, Metropolitan Opera, Metropolitan Opera High Definition Broadcast, Peter Gelb, Phelim Mc Dermott, Richard Fredericks, Richard Wagner, Robert Lepage, Satyagraha, The Nose, William Kentridge, Yaryshkin | 4 Comments

Adam Klein reflects on the beginning of his operatic career

Posted on January 2, 2024 by barczablog

How do we begin? It’s a good question to ask on January 1st. I am a big fan of tenor Adam Klein. I saw him play Loge in the Robert Lepage production of Das Rheingold, just about the only singer who … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Interviews, Opera | Tagged Adam Klein, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Claude Debussy, Das Rheingold, David Fallis, David Wright, Eric Solstein, Gene Boucher, Harold C Schonberg, Judith Blegen, Louis Quilico, Maurice Maeterlinck, Metropolitan Opera, Patricia Windrow, Paul-Émile Débert, Pelléas et Mélisande, Robert Lepage, Silence of the Lambs, Thomas Stewart, Winterreise | Leave a comment

William Shookhoff reflects on a recent operatic controversy

Posted on December 30, 2023 by barczablog

This is a guest blog from William (aka Bill) Shookhoff, the pianist and artistic director of Opera by Request. Thank you Bill! ~~~~~~~ Recently, the distinguished Metropolitan Opera of New York City announced that this holiday season would be marked … Continue reading →

Posted in guest blog, Opera | Tagged Die zauberflote, Julie Taymor, Magic Flute, Opera by Request, William Shookhoff, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | 5 Comments

A Tale for Two Cities: the Battle of Alberta

Posted on December 19, 2023 by barczablog

It’s not the first time I’m jealous of Alberta. The Leafs never win The Cup, while Calgary and Edmonton have each had their moments. Joel Ivany has relocated out west, Miriam Khalil singing and teaching alongside him as they raise … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Alberta, Birmingham Opera, Calgary Opera, Calgary Stampede, Das Rheingold, Edmonton Opera, Graham Vick, Joel Ivany, Jonathan Dove, Miriam Khalil, opera, Richard Wagner | Leave a comment

Mahler, Berg and more at the EJB Library

Posted on November 26, 2023 by barczablog

Thursday Nov 23rd felt like a Thanksgiving celebration. I found a free parking spot on Bernard for one hour. The first 15 minutes were spent walking down Bedford Rd & then Philosopher’s Walk to the Edward Johnson Building for my … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, University life | Tagged Alban Berg, Alexander Dobson, Edward Johnson Building Library, Gustav Mahler, Jay Lambie, University of Toronto | Leave a comment

Mahler’s Fifth and Berg’s early songs

Posted on November 24, 2023 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s program for this week is a surprisingly powerful combination. We open with 17 minutes of passionate singing by mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, seven songs composed by Alban Berg (1885-1935) between 1905 and 1908. After intermission we settle in … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alban Berg, David Robertson, Emily D'Angelo, Gustav Mahler, Leonard Bernstein, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony | 2 Comments

Powerhouse Tristan und Isolde

Posted on October 30, 2023 by barczablog

Last night Powerhouse Opera presented an abridged version of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde at Jeanne Lamon Hall. Powerhouse Opera is a new company begun by soprano Susan Tsagkaris in March 2022, aiming to showcase dramatic / large sized voices with … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Cappellazzo, Andrew Tees, Brahm Goldhamer, Catherin Carew, Kurwenal, Peter Furlong, Powerhouse Opera, Richard Wagner, Susan Tsagkaris, Tristan und Isolde | Leave a comment

Varieties of inclusivity in COC Boheme

Posted on October 29, 2023 by barczablog

Erika and I watched the Canadian Opera Company’s la bohème today at the Four Seasons Centre using our subscription tickets, a revival of John Caird’s production that we saw in 2013 and again in 2019. As it was the closing … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged Against the Grain, Canadian Opera Company, Charlotte Siegel, COC, COC charter, Giacomo Puccini, John Gilks, Jordan de Souza, Justin Welsh, La boheme, Lotfi Mansouri, Opera Ramblings | 8 Comments