Category Archives: Reviews

Paint Me a Song: three cycles for three painters. 

Posted on March 20, 2018 by barczablog

CASP, the Canadian Art Song Project, regularly undertake ambitious programs to push the possibilities of their medium.  To begin tonight’s concert, “Paint Me a Song”, Co-artistic Director Steven Philcox gave some insight into the creation of our program. Curating and commissioning … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Sirett, Koniuk & Oriana: romance on the road

Posted on March 11, 2018 by barczablog

This weekend I went out of town to see a concert while processing this weekend’s great tempo rubato. Daylight Savings Time appropriates an hour from our lives that will only be given back half a year from now. I figured … Continue reading →

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Scorched by Mouawad

Posted on March 8, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight I completed my Wajdi Mouawad trilogy.  Last month I saw his production of Abduction from the Seraglio at the Canadian Opera Company twice, last week I saw Denis Villeneuve’s film Incendies, adapted from the play that I saw tonight. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Politics, Reviews, University life | 2 Comments

Lang Lang: apprentices among the sorcerers

Posted on March 2, 2018 by barczablog

The great piano virtuoso Lang Lang came to Roy Thomson Hall tonight to play with the Toronto Symphony. Because he’s suffering from tendinitis the program was changed to include his young protégé. Lang Lang & Maxim Lando played a series … Continue reading →

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Churchill – Darkest Hour

Posted on February 26, 2018 by barczablog

2017 may be remembered as a year that two movies gave us detailed portraits of Winston Churchill. Darkest Hour is the one you’re probably aware of, starring Gary Oldman in an Oscar-nominated performance.  But I stumbled on another one with … Continue reading →

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Vanderdecken among the zombies: Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction

Posted on February 25, 2018 by barczablog

I had a second look & listen to Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction from the Seraglio,  my second time coming in the closing performance of the run with the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre. I wanted to reflect on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, University life | 5 Comments

Admiring Alexander’s Feast

Posted on February 24, 2018 by barczablog

It was a happy celebration of the birthday of George Frideric Handel at Koerner Hall tonight, feasting on the bounty that is Alexander’s Feast, one of the Dryden odes for St Cecilia’s Day, celebrating the power of music.  Thank goodness … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 2 Comments

Know Thyself, a lesson from Jane Archibald

Posted on February 21, 2018 by barczablog

Today I sat in a very good seat to hear Jane Archibald sing and she sang very well.  I am a very lucky guy. She doesn’t need my review to validate her (ha, but then does any artist?). This is … Continue reading →

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The Wizard of Oz live with the TSO

Posted on February 18, 2018 by barczablog

For the past few years the Toronto Symphony have given us opportunities to see well-known movies with live orchestral accompaniment: Vertigo Psycho Back to the Future The Fellowship of the Ring I don’t pretend to understand how all the necessary … Continue reading →

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Aeris Chordas

Posted on February 17, 2018 by barczablog

“Aeris Chordas” is the name for the concert I saw tonight, chamber music from four artists: Christina Raphaëlle Haldane, soprano Carl Philippe Gionet, piano Michelle Jacot, clarinet Marc Labranche, cello The four composers I saw on the program: Johannes Brahms … Continue reading →

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