Category Archives: Reviews

Mahler’s Fifth and Berg’s early songs

Posted on November 24, 2023 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s program for this week is a surprisingly powerful combination. We open with 17 minutes of passionate singing by mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, seven songs composed by Alban Berg (1885-1935) between 1905 and 1908. After intermission we settle in … Continue reading →

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Powerhouse Tristan und Isolde

Posted on October 30, 2023 by barczablog

Last night Powerhouse Opera presented an abridged version of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde at Jeanne Lamon Hall. Powerhouse Opera is a new company begun by soprano Susan Tsagkaris in March 2022, aiming to showcase dramatic / large sized voices with … Continue reading →

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Varieties of inclusivity in COC Boheme

Posted on October 29, 2023 by barczablog

Erika and I watched the Canadian Opera Company’s la bohème today at the Four Seasons Centre using our subscription tickets, a revival of John Caird’s production that we saw in 2013 and again in 2019. As it was the closing … Continue reading →

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Toronto Symphony’s virtuoso Beethoven

Posted on October 26, 2023 by barczablog

Last night’s Toronto Symphony concert titled “Beethoven’s Seventh” was another chance to watch the ongoing romance between the TSO and their new music director Gustavo Gimeno. Whether it’s a love of Beethoven or delight in the ongoing lovefest between orchestra … Continue reading →

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TOT Pirates

Posted on October 20, 2023 by barczablog

When you’re watching your dog prowling in the back-yard and the phrase “with cat-like tread” pops into your head, you know Gilbert and Sullivan must be on your mind. Of course I knew I was going to attend the Toronto … Continue reading →

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Apocryphonia: GinasterAmirov

Posted on October 2, 2023 by barczablog

When I interviewed Alex Cappellazzo a few weeks ago I asked: what does “Apocryphonia” mean? But tonight I found myself thinking about another question (and seeing the answer before me), namely what do we understand by “authenticity?” It came up … Continue reading →

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A post-truth Fidelio

Posted on September 30, 2023 by barczablog

Last night the Canadian Opera Company had their opening night of Fidelio in a recent San Francisco Opera production directed by Matthew Ozawa, with set and projections designed by Alexander Nichols and costumes by Jessica Jahn. Their design concept is … Continue reading →

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First look at Last Epistle at Tarragon

Posted on September 28, 2023 by barczablog

Last night I was present for the opening night of The Last Epistle of Tightrope Time, a Tarragon/NAC presentation of the National Arts Centre/ Neptune Theatre co-production. The Last Epistle is a one-man show written and performed by Walter Borden, … Continue reading →

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Tafelmusik Beethoven 4 and 5

Posted on September 25, 2023 by barczablog

Tafelmusik launched their 45th season with a concert titled “Beethoven 4 and 5“ at Koerner Hall, perhaps in echo of their anniversary. We not only heard a wonderful concert, but witnessed a moving reunion between the ensemble and their regular … Continue reading →

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TSO Rite of Spring, making a statement

Posted on September 22, 2023 by barczablog

You know you’re at a special concert when you can’t identify the highlight, between pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet’s flashy reading of the Gershwin Concerto in F before intermission, or an overwhelming Rite of Spring filling Roy Thomson Hall with sound. As … Continue reading →

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