Category Archives: Opera

Rheingold by Request

Posted on May 14, 2011 by barczablog

A concert performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold can be many things, but above all, it’s a colossal job.  For almost three hours, a group of singers breathes life into Gods, giants, dwarves, and Rhine-maidens, while a pianist impersonates a huge … Continue reading →

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Adrianne’s Ariadne

Posted on May 13, 2011 by barczablog

You know you’re an opera fan when___ .  There are lots of ways to complete the sentence, but how about this one(….?): you know you’re an opera fan when you come out of the Lion King, humming Ariadne auf Naxos.  … Continue reading →

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Lion Taymor

Posted on May 11, 2011 by barczablog

I knew I was going to use a punny headline of some sort, this was perhaps the least offensive among my options.  I saw The Lion King tonight, admittedly years after its opening, and awhile after its first appearance in … Continue reading →

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COC Orfeo ed Euridice

Posted on May 9, 2011 by barczablog

Some subjects are so immense that the only way to put them onstage is by making them into opera.  Gluck‘s Orfeo ed Euridice takes on all the major topics—love, death and art –in a concise 90 minute plot.  They don’t … Continue reading →

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Two tunes

Posted on May 8, 2011 by barczablog

William Shookoff’s Opera By Request presented two short operas last night, I Pagliacci paired with Gianni Schicchi.   It’s an interesting pairing.  Once upon a time you’d encounter two verismo shockers (Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci), each ending with death and a … Continue reading →

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Ariadne in Toronto

Posted on May 1, 2011 by barczablog

The premiere of the new Canadian Opera Company production of Ariadne auf Naxos was  a dramatic occasion indeed.  Neil Armfield’s new production, handsomely designed by Dale Ferguson, was upstaged by some genuine drama. First, there was the return of Sir … Continue reading →

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La Cenerentola

Posted on April 29, 2011 by barczablog

The current Canadian Opera Company production of La Cenerentola brings me face to face with one of the great themes, and sorry if I am about to sound like your junior high English teacher.  While the opera probably can be … Continue reading →

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La Clemenza di Tito

Posted on April 23, 2011 by barczablog

Let’s say you’re a devoted fan of a particular art form, such as Shakespeare’s plays, Fellini’s films or Gaugin’s paintings.  Then imagine that suddenly someone discovers a masterpiece by your favourite.  Can you imagine the joy to suddenly encounter a … Continue reading →

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Mozart knew what he was doing

Posted on April 21, 2011 by barczablog

Yes I made a joke on my facebook status about the relevance of Mozart’s opera La Clemenza di Tito to anyone in a country uneasy about their government’s authoritarian tendencies, an ironic reference to Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove; Mozart’s opera might … Continue reading →

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La Traviata in concert

Posted on April 9, 2011 by barczablog

There’s no better affirmation of the power of a particular opera score than to see it performed in concert: or maybe that should be “hear” rather than “see”.  The only impact a designer has on such a performance is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments