Category Archives: Personal ruminations & essays

Boheme to close the deal

Posted on May 5, 2019 by

It’s that time of year when one considers renewing the opera subscription. Oh don’t get me wrong, I was going to renew it anyway. But the comment from the Mrs today was electric. She’s so glad to know that we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Leave a comment

Robert Lepage’s 887 this time

Posted on May 4, 2019 by

Have you seen Robert Lepage’s 887? This show’s been all over the world. I missed the first Toronto incarnation in 2015 but saw it & raved about  it last time, brought to Toronto via Canadian Stage (one of the co-producers) … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Psychology and perception, Theatre & musicals | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

COC Otello

Posted on May 1, 2019 by

On paper the Canadian Opera Company’s new offering, an English National Opera production of Verdi’s Otello directed by David Alden and starring Russell Thomas, Gerald Finley & Tamara Wilson is as good as it gets. It’s an incredible luxury to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, Theatre & musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Questions for Dean Burry: Shanawdithit

Posted on April 20, 2019 by

I hope you’ll forgive me if I pause to take a breath before I attempt to tell you who Dean Burry is, a man who wears so many hats one doesn’t always know how to address him. Professor? Composer? Librettist? … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Theatre & musicals, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two schools

Posted on April 18, 2019 by

My review of the Canadian Opera Company La Boheme that I saw last night alluded to two different approaches. I hope you’ll bear with me. I know many people who would roll their eyes. Why bother at all with Boheme, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 2 Comments

Pondering wandering

Posted on April 14, 2019 by

I like the sound of that headline. As I do what it says, pondering wandering, I am a bit lost in the ambiguities. If we knew where we were going it wouldn’t be wandering, would it. The time of year … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion, Theatre & musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Berlioz 150   

Posted on March 17, 2019 by

I started writing this one and shoved it aside because I’m swamped with several things at the same time.  That’s life in Toronto if you’re keeping up with the music or opera or theatre scene, let alone trying to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , | 1 Comment