Category Archives: Reviews

Glorious Of the Sea

Posted on March 26, 2023 by barczablog

Of the Sea opened tonight to tumultuous applause from the Bluma Appel Theatre crowd, a co-production of Obsidian Theatre & Tapestry Opera. Kanika Ambrose (libretto) and Ian Cusson (music) have collaborated to bring a beautiful myth to life. I heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged Bluma Appel Theatre, Chantale Nurse, Ian Cusson, Jennifer Tung, Jorell Williams, Justin Welsh, Kanika Ambrose, LibLab, Of the Sea, Paul Williamson, Philip Akin, Suzanne Taffot, Tapestry Opera | Leave a comment

Gimeno conducts Beethoven 5

Posted on March 23, 2023 by barczablog

Wednesday night was the latest example of the remarkable chemistry we see, hear and feel between the Toronto Symphony and their new music director Gustavo Gimeno, continuing the magic of their 100th anniversary season. Last night’s program included Madrigal: Celebration … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Brian Harman, Gustavo Gimeno, Gyorgy Ligeti, Iman Habibi, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Jeder Baum spricht, Ludwig van Beethoven, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony | 2 Comments

L’Amant anonyme

Posted on March 20, 2023 by barczablog

Voicebox Opera in Concert presented the last performance of their season series dedicated to Mozart and the operas of his time, L’Amant anonyme by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges aka Joseph Boulogne, sometimes called “The Black Mozart”. His life story … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Cappellazzo, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, David Fallis, Dion Mazerolle, Holly Chaplin, Robert Cooper, The Black Mozart, Voicebox Opera in Concert | 2 Comments

Rhino

Posted on March 10, 2023 by barczablog

Rhino is an adaptation of Ionesco’s 1959 absurdist play Rhinoceros, by Aleksandar (Sasha) Lukac and Emilie Varga. Last night I watched its premiere at Theatre Glendon with students in Lukac’s drama class. It’s much shorter than the original. As I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | Tagged absurdism, Aleksandar Lukac, Emilie Varga, Eugene Ionesco, Sasha Lukac, Theatre Glendon | Leave a comment

Opera York’s Magic Flute

Posted on March 6, 2023 by barczablog

It was worth the drive to Richmond Hill yesterday to see Opera York’s production of The Magic Flute, their first in-person return to the stage since the pandemic. While Friday night’s snow-storm likely reduced attendance, Sunday’s matinee was sold out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Holly Chaplin, Opera York, OperOttawa, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Ryan Downey, The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | 1 Comment

Colin Eatock’s Birthday concert

Posted on February 21, 2023 by barczablog

No there was no cake or champagne but I’m watching my weight and can’t drive home to Scarborough if I’ve been drinking. Yet it was truly like a party, a celebration of our host Colin Eatock on the occasion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Alison Melville, Christopher Bagan, Colin Eatock, Glenn Gould, Hans Poser, Louis Andriessen | Leave a comment

NACO Songs for Murdered Sisters

Posted on February 12, 2023 by barczablog

Every year at this time, the Toronto Symphony and National Arts Centre Orchestras visit one another as part of a tour. NACO and Joshua Hopkins brought the cycle Songs for Murdered Sisters by Jake Heggie and Margaret Atwood to Roy … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Shelley, Isabel Bader, Jake Heggie, Johannes Brahms, Joshua Hopkins, Kingston, Margaret Atwood, NACO, Roy Thomson Hall, TSO | Leave a comment

Salome returns to tumultuous welcome

Posted on February 4, 2023 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company’s co-production of Richard Strauss’s Salome returned last night in the first of seven performances to huge applause. It’s a star vehicle for Ambur Braid in the title role, a wonderful first outing for Michael Schade as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Ambur Braid, Atom Egoyan, Canadian Opera Company, Johannes Debus, Karita Mattila, Michael Kupfer-Radecky, Michael Schade, Richard Strauss, Salome | Leave a comment

Guth Ideas to save Figaro

Posted on January 29, 2023 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company have revived Claus Guth‘s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro that they presented to us in 2016, this time with a slightly different cast and conductor. The three and a half hours fly by on … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Andrea Carroll, Canadian Opera Company, Claus Guth, Doug MacNaughton, Emily Fons, Gordon Bintner, Harry Bicket, Lauren Fagan, Luca Pisaroni, Marcelo Buscaino, Mireille Asselin, Robert Pomakov, Sasha Djihanian, The Marriage of Figaro, Uli Kirsch, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment

TSO – TMC Mozart Requiem: Best Concert of the Year

Posted on January 12, 2023 by barczablog

The headline is only partly in jest. Yes it was the best concert so far in 2023, as of January 11th. Many are still saying “Happy New Year” and writing the wrong date on cheques (if they even write cheques … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Gregorio Allegri, Hildegard von Bingen, Isaiah Bell, Jane Archibald, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Kevin Deas, Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Francis, Susan Platts, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment