Category Archives: Personal ruminations & essays

The Patriarch

Posted on September 16, 2013 by barczablog

David Warrack is writing an oratorio on the life of Abraham, the Biblical patriarch.  I’m thrilled to be participating in a concert presentation of excerpts.  We’ve had some rehearsals, with about a week to go until the concert at Metropolitan … Continue reading →

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

Post

Posted on September 7, 2013 by barczablog

When i go to write a new piece here on the blog, i follow the tab to “new post”.  We were promised a paperless office, a paperless world long ago, but it never happened.  It’s funny to keep bumping into … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Histories

Posted on September 5, 2013 by barczablog

As I revised the outline for “The Most Popular Operas” (a course I teach here at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, beginning September 18th), I was asked as usual to recommend books. I used to suggest Roger … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

After Mansouri

Posted on September 2, 2013 by barczablog

Lotfi Mansouri’s death earlier this week is not the end of an era.  His time had already passed long ago.  But his death is still a fit time to ask “how important was Lotfi Mansouri”? One answers that question differently … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Leave a comment

Christian Jeffries: Songs From The Couch

Posted on August 22, 2013 by barczablog

I first encountered Christian Jeffries in the Soup Can Theatre cabaret show Love is a Poverty You Can Sell 2 at the Fringe in July, the most memorable performer we encountered for two brief numbers. CJ was back last night, … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged | Leave a comment

Trajectory to Elysium

Posted on August 20, 2013 by barczablog

I try not to give away the plots of films I review.  As I write my second piece within a week of seeing Elysium, I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who has not yet seen it. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Psychology and perception | Leave a comment

Elysium

Posted on August 17, 2013 by barczablog

Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 (2009) is the most original film I’ve seen in a long time, a mash-up of science fiction tropes and some very political elements.  I wrote about it in passing in a long rambling essay (long even … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Six years since Richard Bradshaw

Posted on August 16, 2013 by barczablog

It was August 15, 2007.  I recall hearing the news that Richard Bradshaw had died. The Canadian Opera Company now have a resident conductor & a general director. Johannes Debus conducts the COC Orchestra & Alexander Neef is the canny … Continue reading →

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

Ethics and aesthetics in the news

Posted on August 13, 2013 by barczablog

It’s an odd week to be sure, as the Political keeps pushing its chin into the picture, rearing its handsome & long-haired head. The biggest controversy I’m currently hearing about is the fortunate convergence of Putin with Tchaikowsky…more on that … Continue reading →

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

Worship through Music, or “This is your soul on music”

Posted on August 10, 2013 by barczablog

This is a blog version of a message I delivered August 4th 2013. The readings (read by someone else) were Joshua 6: 1-21: one of scariest displays of the Old Testament God’s power, music is central to this moment. Psalm … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments