Category Archives: Personal ruminations & essays

Waverley’s Aura and the Romance of Scotland

Posted on September 19, 2014 by barczablog

It’s the morning after.  The world is waking up from something. Was it a nightmare or a fantasy?  Scotland will not separate from the United Kingdom after all. This morning –knocked a bit senseless by a cold, sniff sniff cough … Continue reading →

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Robin Williams trailers

Posted on September 3, 2014 by barczablog

Our cable provider’s pay-per-view offers trailers for many of the films that are available to watch.  For the last few weeks there’s been a category called “Robin Williams”.  It’s a broad assortment of films even if it really only scrapes … Continue reading →

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

Canada Day

Posted on July 1, 2014 by barczablog

It’s Canada Day, a day to celebrate and give thanks.   A big part of gratitude is recognition.  If we’re to be grateful for what we have, our eyes have to be open (and excuse me if i am repeating myself… … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Leave a comment

Missing book

Posted on June 18, 2014 by barczablog

No this isn’t a book review. I can’t get my hands on Thomas Piketty’s 700 page book Capital in the 21st Century. Forgive me if I am paranoid about this. Since when was a best-seller impossible to obtain? But try … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Ideal Pelléas

Posted on June 15, 2014 by barczablog

It may be redundant to speak of an ideal Pelléas et Mélisande. The work is symbolist, which means it’s by definition a kind of ideal work. And notice I did not say “An” or “The” ideal Pelléas. It was “Ideal … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A conversation

Posted on June 7, 2014 by barczablog

One of the glories of travel is the encounter with the other. It’s fun to get to another country and talk to countrymen who just happen to be abroad. But that reminds me of the Accidental Tourist. Remember the film? … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | 1 Comment

Dueling ear-worms: surrender and adventure

Posted on June 6, 2014 by barczablog

It ís Friday, a national holiday I am told. Does it matter why? People need to celebrate, and yes, people sometimes need to rest. I didn’t realize how tired I was. I boarded the plane Wednesday night in Toronto. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | 1 Comment

Recreation

Posted on June 3, 2014 by barczablog

Eleanor Farjeon used a word in one of her lyrics, a word that always catches my eye. She is not a one-hit wonder.  She’s a two-hit wonder, and her hits are hymns. Farjeon’s contribution was lyrics rather than music. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

Media Circus 3: critical dinosaurs

Posted on May 22, 2014 by barczablog

In one tiny corner of the media circus, ignored by most of the audience, you’ll find a nerdy subculture, the opera lovers.  Yet many of the same influences inhere that you’d find anywhere else. And so I’ll speak of something … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 5 Comments

Polar Bears and Lullabies

Posted on April 24, 2014 by barczablog

Today Rick Sacks brought his charismatic performance style to the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in a concert including the first piece dedicated to the RBA and the Canadian Opera Company. While we were in the realm of new instrumental music without … Continue reading →

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