Category Archives: Personal ruminations & essays

Kindred Spirits in Markham

Posted on February 12, 2017 by barczablog

At the risk of saying something really obvious: there’s a great deal of music going on in Toronto, and all around the city too.  I ventured just north of the city to one of several community venues, the charming 527 … Continue reading →

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Remembering Nicolai Gedda

Posted on February 11, 2017 by barczablog

The passing of tenor Nicolai Gedda will elicit testimonials and remembrances of the artist, of the person, of performances & great moments. I’m just sharing this because I think it’s important to do so, arguably all that we have.  Drama … Continue reading →

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BACH IS BACK: 2nd Annual Toronto Bach Festival

Posted on February 10, 2017 by barczablog

2nd Annual Toronto Bach Festival: May 26 – 28, 2017 Toronto (Canada) February 9, 2017… Artistic Director John Abberger is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Toronto Bach Festival is taking place May 26, 27 and 28, 2017 in Toronto. … Continue reading →

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Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach: Straub & Huillet @ tiff

Posted on February 9, 2017 by barczablog

Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach is the original title of the 1967 film by Danièle Huillet & Jean-Marie Straub, that I just saw on a new 35 mm print, courtesy of TIFF / Bell Lightbox, in anticipation of an upcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Press Releases and Announcements | 5 Comments

Triump of the Will, the post-virtuoso era

Posted on December 30, 2016 by barczablog

This morning in the shower contemplating the meaning of life, I saw a solution to an old problem. The Book of Revelation confused me (and I suspect I’m not alone) in seeming to suggest that The Apocalypse could simultaneously offer … Continue reading →

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Pollyanna’s 2016

Posted on December 29, 2016 by barczablog

At the end of 2015 I said the following: It was a year when the Pollyanna sentiment seemed to be in the ascendancy.  Trudeau beat Harper. I can’t help wondering, would that have been the case if the Paris attacks … Continue reading →

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The mysterious politics of the TSO

Posted on December 23, 2016 by barczablog

Why a series of pieces with the word “mystery”? Sometimes a person may feel clueless. There are times when I feel satisfied with myself and my abilities. I go to a concert or watch a production in a theatre, and come … Continue reading →

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Mysteries

Posted on December 22, 2016 by barczablog

As we come to the latter part of the year, a festive time when we hoist drinks, hug our loved ones and count our blessings, I’m playing a bit of a game, partly inspired by my friend Ian Henderson. Perhaps … Continue reading →

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Two different takes on Bach: Busoni vs Brahms

Posted on December 14, 2016 by barczablog

Anthologies tend to be a mixed bag. I’m quite partial to a Schirmer collection of 26 Bach piano transcriptions by an assortment of great composers. It has its strengths and weaknesses. I am not particularly inspired by what Saint-Saëns did … Continue reading →

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Looking back across the Bridge to the Future

Posted on November 18, 2016 by barczablog

It was a concert to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution as well as the 135th Anniversary of the Birth of Béla Bartók, presented by CHAMP: the Canadian Hungarian Association for Music Performance. While the title of the … Continue reading →

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