Category Archives: Personal ruminations & essays

Thinking about snobs, with Baz Luhrmann and Jay Gatsby

Posted on December 8, 2013 by barczablog

I’m thinking about two competing narratives lately, as I alluded at the beginning of my review of Singing the Earth.  Is transcendent activism possible? Nelson Mandela seems to say yes.  Rob Ford would agree, although he sees himself as an … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The great Canadian opera

Posted on December 3, 2013 by barczablog

It’s such a funky headline, almost an oxymoron.  The book of Canadian operas is a slim volume indeed, but the list of great Canadian operas?  Hm, are there any? Even one? I have two names bouncing in my head right … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 14 Comments

Beatriz Boizán: Pasión

Posted on November 19, 2013 by barczablog

Sometimes artists show two or more sides.  The different roles played in a concert hall or in a recording studio bring out different aspects of a creative personality, at least as masks if not as divergent personalities. That’s how I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Civil Rites

Posted on November 12, 2013 by barczablog

It’s quite a bargain, this deal we’ve struck.  Any social contract is a trade-off, giving something to get something.  Nobody ever thinks about it, this amazing exchange, because it’s almost totally invisible, unless someone shines light on it, as they … Continue reading →

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

Songs in the key of F Mayor

Posted on November 7, 2013 by barczablog

Meaning is where you find it. Toronto’s mayor is bigger than ever.  He was always large, but now he’s becoming an international icon.  If he wanted it, I’m sure a reality TV show could follow His Worship and his brother … Continue reading →

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Reinventing the audience

Posted on November 5, 2013 by barczablog

No, I am not reinventing,  I am the anthropologist busily observing, and seeking to articulate something that’s out there among the specimens.  Humanity –at least the western version thereof—are busily changing the social consensus. Surely the changes have been underway … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Psychology and perception | 2 Comments

Feral piano: Beatriz Boizán

Posted on October 19, 2013 by barczablog

It’s a truism that some artists are different in live situations than on record.  The presence of an audience can inspire & illuminate a performance in a way that doesn’t happen in a studio. That’s what I experienced tonight.  When … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Light in the Piazza

Posted on October 6, 2013 by barczablog

Out of town post #2 Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably were the reason I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but  once there I jumped at the chance to see the show I was most curious about at this year’s Shaw Festival, namely … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 4 Comments

Rockstar of fabric & yarn

Posted on October 6, 2013 by barczablog

Out of town post #1 I spent two days in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  One can see Toronto from a marathon swimmer’s perspective (as we did after dark).  I took Brandon Mably & Kaffe Fassett down to show them the view.  It’s so … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

In Pace Requiescat

Posted on October 1, 2013 by barczablog

“Press releases and announcements” are presented verbatim without comment. In Pace Requiescat Opera 5 Returns With Edgar Allan Poe-Based Operas in a Haunted House October 27th, 30th, 31st 7:30PM Arts and Letters Club 14 Elm Street Tickets Online $25.00 Students/$30.00 … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment