Category Archives: Reviews

Mad Swan

Posted on December 19, 2010 by barczablog

After a post earlier this week concerning ballet, I had to go see Black Swan, a film that appears to go right to the heart of the artform or at least the concerns I spoke of the other day. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | Leave a comment

A new Messiah

Posted on December 12, 2010 by barczablog

It might seem to be a conundrum worthy of a religious scholar: how do we know the real Messiah?  And even though we’re not speaking of a saviour but rather about Handel’s oratorio, the topic may as well be a … Continue reading →

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Levesque in Leslieville

Posted on December 9, 2010 by barczablog

It’s midweek at Edward Levesque’s Kitchen with my friend Brian, catching up.  This is my second visit.  The first in 2009, was my daughter’s idea.  Zoe has an expat’s appreciation of Toronto and a great network of arty friends telling … Continue reading →

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Studies in Motion decidedly Electric

Posted on December 4, 2010 by barczablog

The presentation of Electric Company Theatre’s Studies in Motion is superficially important as part of the reinvention of the Canadian Stage brand in Toronto.  I’m grateful to CanStage for giving us another look at one of the important companies working … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | 2 Comments

Genoveva November 17th

Posted on November 22, 2010 by barczablog

How good is Robert Schumann’s Genoveva?  It depends who you ask.  Conventional musicological wisdom from a generation ago consigns Schumann to the same kind of niche as other virtuosi such as Chopin and Liszt.  Their solo piano works are brilliant … Continue reading →

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COC: Aida & Death in Venice

Posted on November 20, 2010 by barczablog

Once upon a time, the key to operatic success was understood according to the prestige associated with the famous singers in the cast.  Success required star-power, at least in the viewpoint of the influential impresario Sol Hurok, who changed our … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 6 Comments

Eonnagata in Toronto

Posted on November 19, 2010 by barczablog

The opening image of Eonnagata, the latest production from Ex Machina, Robert Lepage’s company that premiered recently at the Sony Centre, reminded me of a seminal moment of Wagner’s Das Rheingold, the opera that begins the Ring cycle.  We see … Continue reading →

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