Category Archives: Reviews

Voicebox Opera in Concert’s Canadian premiere of Richard Coeur-de-Lion

Posted on November 16, 2025 by barczablog

Today I witnessed the Canadian premiere of André Grétry’s Richard Coeur-de-Lion, presented by Voicebox: Opera in Concert at the Jeanne Lamon Hall. Colin Ainsworth was singing the title role, but was indisposed, courageously singing the role but often dropping to … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alice Macgregor, André Grétry, classical-music, Colin Ainsworth, Diane Loeb, Fidelio, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Jeanne Lamon Hall, Madeline Cooper, music, Nicole Katerberg, Opera in Concert Chorus, rescue opera, Richard Coeur-de-Lion, Robert Cooper, Suzy Smith, Taylor Gibbs, Voicebox Opera in Concert, Yannik Gosselin | Leave a comment

Mendelssohn Choir — Brahms German Requiem

Posted on November 9, 2025 by barczablog

Friday night Toronto Mendelssohn Choir & Musicians of Kitchener – Waterloo Symphony presented Brahms German Requiem in a sold out Koerner Hall to rapturous applause. I had been initially concerned that this massive work employing a big choir & orchestra … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged A German Requiem, As I Lay Sleeping, chamber orchestra, Charlotte Siegel, classical-music, composition, Ein deutsches Requiem, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Joachim Linckelmann, Johannes Brahms, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Koerner Hall, orchestration, R Murray Schafer, Russell Braun, Stephanie Martin, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Vanessa McKernan | 1 Comment

The Far Side of the Moon takes us into Robert Lepage

Posted on November 2, 2025 by barczablog

If you are a fan of theatrical presentations, brilliant design and innovative stage techniques you must get a ticket to see Far Side of the Moon by Robert Lepage / Ex Machina at the Bluma Appel Theatre until November 16th. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | Tagged Bluma Appel Theatre, Ex Machina, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Laurie Anderson, Olivier Normand, Robert Lepage, space elevator, space flight, The Far Side of the Moon | 5 Comments

Mikado worthy of revisit

Posted on October 27, 2025 by barczablog

I took Erika to see the Toronto Operetta Theatre’s The Mikado Revisited at the Jane Mallett Sunday afternoon, wanting to escape from the world. Other than the usual topical jokes (and what’s Gilbert & Sullivan without references to current events) … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Gilbert and Sullivan, Gregory Finney, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Jane Mallett Theatre, Karen Bojti, Madeline Cooper, Marcus Tranquilli, Narmina Afandiyeva, Stuart Graham, Toronto Operetta Theatre | 1 Comment

Another look at Roméo et Juliette as a departure point for reflections on criticism & dramaturgy

Posted on October 19, 2025 by barczablog

This has been a bit of a bewildering week, astonishing contrasts. I repeat my self-fulfilling mantra “I am a lucky guy,” grateful for what I’ve experienced. Wednesday was Opera Atelier’s Magic Flute, Thursday Tapestry Briefs Under Where, Friday was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Essays, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Against the Grain, Amy Lane, Charles Gounod, Colin Ainsworth, criticism, dramaturgy, Eugene Onegin, Hector Berlioz, Holly Chaplin, Kseniia Proshina, Magic Flute, Opera Atelier, Opera Revue, Orfeo ed Euridice, Romeo and Juliet, Tapestry Briefs, testimony | 2 Comments

Opera Atelier’s beautiful Magic Flute returns to the Elgin Theatre

Posted on October 16, 2025 by barczablog

Opera Atelier are back with the Magic Flute for their fall season at the Elgin Theatre, doing what they do best, in the first of four performances at the Elgin Theatre Wednesday October 15th. Accompanied by Tafelmusik Orchestra who play … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Blaise Rantoanina, Carla Huhtanen, Colin Ainsworth, Danielle MacMillan, David Fallis, Dora Rust d'Eye, Douglas Williams, Elgin Theatre, Emanuel Schikaneder, Gerard Gauci, historically informed performance, Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, Karine White, Laura Pudwell, Marshall Pynkoski, Meghan Lindsay, Michael Gianfrancesco, Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Opera Atelier, Pelleas et Melisande, Rainelle Krause, Stephen Hegedus, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment

Superb Orfeo revival

Posted on October 13, 2025 by barczablog

I was delighted by the Canadian Opera Company revival of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice Saturday at the Four Seasons Centre. Although I thought I liked it well enough when I saw it in 2011 I never expected the gushing tears … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Anna-Sophie Neher, Bernard Labadie, Canadian Opera Company, Catherine St-Arnaud, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Christophe Gayra, classical-music, Four Seasons Centre, Iestyn Davies, music, opera, Orfeo ed Euridice, Ranieri de' Calzabigi, reform opera, review, Robert Carsen, Sandra Horst | Leave a comment

COC’s highly original Roméo et Juliette

Posted on October 6, 2025 by barczablog

It might be the best-known of all Shakespeare stories, the star-crossed lovers, dying young for love. Romeo and Juliet becomes Roméo et Juliette when a French composer such as Charles Gounod (1867) is telling the story in music. The rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alex Hetherington, Amy Lane, Canadian Opera Company, Charles Gounod, Gordon Bintner, Jules Barbier, Kseniia Proshina, Megan Latham, Michel Carré, music, opera, Owen McCausland, Robert Lepage, Robert Pomakov, Roméo et Juliette, Romeo and Juliet, Sandra Horst, Stephen Costello, surtitles, theatre, Yves Abel | 2 Comments

Scarborough Philharmonic Voyages

Posted on October 4, 2025 by barczablog

For a little while I was able to go far away from the world, as Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra helped me & the enthusiastic audience escape at their Friday October 3rd season opener, a concert titled “Voyages”. Escapism works for me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged classical-music, Conrad Chow, Elizabeth Raum, Max Bruch, Michael Jones, music, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Ronald Royer, Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, University of Toronto Schools, UTS | Leave a comment

Rethinking Mozart 40 & Schubert 5 with Rachel Podger and Tafelmusik

Posted on September 27, 2025 by barczablog

Friday night was an exciting beginning to the Tafelmusik concert season led by their charismatic Principal Guest Director Rachel Podger featuring works of Mozart & Schubert, a concert to be repeated Saturday & Sunday at Koerner Hall. The spectacular performances … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Charlotte Nediger, classical-music, Franz Schubert, Koerner Hall, Mozart, Rachel Podger, Tafelmusik, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment