Category Archives: Reviews

Musique 3 Femmes – Next Wave Workshop

Posted on March 24, 2019 by barczablog

The Wednesday March 20th noon-hour sample of Next Wave was a small sample of the riches we encountered in tonight’s Workshop, presented with the support of Tapestry Opera & hosted at their Ernest Balmer Studio. And there was a social … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

St Matthew Passion: Bach at 334

Posted on March 22, 2019 by barczablog

Tonight was the first of four performances of the St Matthew Passion from Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, with members of the Toronto Children’s Chorus, all led by Masaaki Suzuki. By coincidence it was JS Bach’s 334th birthday. While … Continue reading →

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ELLES—Marina Thibeault

Posted on March 17, 2019 by barczablog

The new ATMA Classics CD ELLES seems apt for a month when there seems to be a great deal of music, opera & theatre created by women, celebrating female creativity, and perhaps extra noticeable with last week’s International Women’s Day … Continue reading →

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Unsafe

Posted on March 15, 2019 by barczablog

There are nights when the theatre reminds you how lucky you are. You may think that I say this too often, but I don’t believe we say it often enough, especially the entitled white upper class twits I think of … Continue reading →

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School Girls; or The African Mean Girls Play

Posted on March 11, 2019 by barczablog

I’ve just seen Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls, presented by Obsidian Theatre in association with Nightwood Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. The co-production is a natural considering how perfectly the play fulfills the mandates of both companies, a piece … Continue reading →

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Revisor

Posted on March 8, 2019 by barczablog

The hybrid creation Revisor from Jonathon Young and Crystal Pite is so much more than I can put into words, a piece of theatre that explores the process of signification while showing us the ways that it breaks down. It’s … Continue reading →

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Perchance to Dream

Posted on March 4, 2019 by barczablog

I’ve just seen Perchance to Dream in its Canadian Premiere with Toronto Operetta Theatre.  Ivor Novello’s musical romance was a great success upon its first appearance in London in 1945, although tastes have changed. I was reminded of Salieri in … Continue reading →

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Egoyan- Lite

Posted on February 24, 2019 by barczablog

I had another look at the Canadian Opera Company’s Cosi fan tutte tonight, a production that I enjoyed even more this time in its closing performance. Last time I was content to have so much fun & so many laughs, … Continue reading →

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The Angel Speaks

Posted on February 22, 2019 by barczablog

Tonight I was present at the North American Premiere of The Angel Speaks, a program of several works in several styles from Opera Atelier in a single performance for a small audience at the Royal Ontario Museum. Would we call … Continue reading →

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Paolozzapedia

Posted on February 21, 2019 by barczablog

Commedia dell’Arte is a living theatre language. In Paolozzapedia, Adam Paolozza’s new meditation upon his heritage & influences, a Bad New Days Production with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille, that opened tonight at TPM, we get one of the … Continue reading →

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