Category Archives: Reviews

Circa Humans

Posted on November 10, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight I saw Humans by the Circa Ensemble a visiting troupe from Australia. I read the following brief preamble from Yaron Lifschitz, the Artistic Director of Circa.  While it was poignant before the show, it was positively illuminating to re-read … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Steffani: more devotion than drama

Posted on November 9, 2018 by barczablog

I am grateful for the gift of a new voice, a new composer introduced to me by Tafelmusik, Ivars Taurins, and Krisztina Szabo. It’s truly a magical thing. I was pondering the experience of classical music, how so much of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A Recipe for Resilience: Yiddish Glory

Posted on October 30, 2018 by barczablog

Do you have any DVDs or books or CDs that you use to cheer yourself up or chase away the blues? I’ve had several I relied upon over the years. And I’ve discovered a special new one. I’m very lucky, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Opera Atelier: Actéon and Pygmalion

Posted on October 29, 2018 by barczablog

I saw two baroque operas on the same bill, plus something brand new added. Opera Atelier are presenting Charpentier’s Actéon and Rameau’s Pygmalion at the Elgin Theatre in a program exploring Ovidian tales of transformation, tenor Colin Ainsworth starring in … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A closer look at Hadrian

Posted on October 28, 2018 by barczablog

Today was the closing performance of Hadrian, the new opera by Rufus Wainwright and Daniel MacIvor, presented by the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre. After tonight’s display of healthy nearly-naked male bodies in a homosexual love story, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thomas Søndergård leads the TSO

Posted on October 21, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight was the second of two consecutive concerts of the Toronto Symphony conducted by Danish maestro Thomas Søndergård, a spectacular program devoured by an eager audience showing off the strengths of the orchestra: Thomas Adès: Dances from Powder Her face … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rufus Wainwright’s Hadrian

Posted on October 14, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight I saw the world premiere of Hadrian, an opera commissioned by the Canadian Opera Company with libretto by Daniel MacIvor, music composed by Rufus Wainwright, directed by Peter Hinton and conducted by Johannes Debus. There are some wonderful performances, … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Han-Na Chang and Javier Perianes: Mahler & Ravel

Posted on October 4, 2018 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony played a mid-week concert tonight to a rapturous reception. The TSO are in a transition, awaiting their new music director while playing either with their interim Artistic director Andrew Davis, or with a series of guests.  There … Continue reading →

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Homecoming for Carsen’s Eugene Onegin

Posted on October 1, 2018 by barczablog

Better late than never, the Canadian Opera Company have premiered Robert Carsen’s Eugene Onegin, a production originally premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1997. It’s a triumph of Canadian talent on all sides, from the sets & costumes by Michael … Continue reading →

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A new start with the old guy

Posted on September 23, 2018 by barczablog

A very long time ago I was a Toronto Symphony subscriber watching Andrew Davis conduct the TSO. We’re both much older now. Tonight’s concert at Roy Thomson Hall was the launch of a new season with a new leader stepping … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment