Category Archives: Reviews

Legends of Horror

Posted on November 1, 2017 by barczablog

If you like your theatre interactive, I have the show for you. But whoops tonight was the closing night. Even so I am betting that Legends of Horror will come back to Casa Loma next year.  I sure hope so.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Popular music & culture, Reviews | 1 Comment

Opera Atelier Marriage of Figaro

Posted on October 30, 2017 by barczablog

A year and a half ago it was a conceptual Marriage of Figaro including a mysterious cupid and bird carcasses, in Claus Guth’s production at the Canadian Opera Company.  Now it’s Opera Atelier’s turn in a production at the Elgin … Continue reading →

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Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta

Posted on October 29, 2017 by barczablog

You knew this had to be a different concert from the beginning, the second half of an exchange, that had begun with the Toronto Symphony’s visit to Israel last year.  Roy Thomson Hall was really full, including the seats behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 5 Comments

The Big Sick

Posted on October 22, 2017 by barczablog

I don’t usually see movies when they’re brand new.  But I feel daring and all caught up because I’ve just seen The Big Sick, Kumail Nanjiani’s auto-biographical comedy. It’s a film that came out back in January. It feels even … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | Leave a comment

Tribute to Maureen Forrester

Posted on October 20, 2017 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony presented the first of two concerts titled “A Tribute to Maureen Forrester” tonight, a celebration of a great Canadian artist, and two premieres. It felt a bit like a radio program, given that Ben Heppner was “host” … Continue reading →

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Magic Elixir

Posted on October 15, 2017 by barczablog

It’s my second consecutive opera involving a romantic beverage at the Four Seasons Centre with the Canadian Opera Company, and no I don’t mean what I was drinking. I can’t help comparing and contrasting Arabella, yesterday’s opera with The Elixir … Continue reading →

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Timely Arabella

Posted on October 15, 2017 by barczablog

Some compositions catch on right away, others take awhile to find an audience. I saw and enjoyed Arabella tonight in the Canadian Opera Company premiere production, the first time they’ve presented it: the sixth and last (premiered in 1933) in … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Simon Callow Being Wagner

Posted on October 13, 2017 by barczablog

I’ve just devoured a new book, Simon Callow’s Being Wagner.   The University of Toronto’s excellent music library just acquired it, a new book with a 2017 copyright. The cover shows the sub-title “Triumph of the Will” which is likely apt, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

Adizokan images

Posted on October 8, 2017 by barczablog

I’m adding a bit to what I posted last night. I can’t deny that my understanding of Adizokan is only partial.  I wanted to mention the dancers, namely Eddie Elliott, Lonii Garnons-Williams, Julie Pham, and Jera Wolfe, plus Michel Muniidobenese  … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Adizokan

Posted on October 8, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight I was present for the premiere of Adizokan, a collaboration between Red Sky Performance and the Toronto Symphony as part of Canada 150. It was much easier surrendering to the sounds and sights of this multi-media multi-disciplinary work than … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Reviews | 3 Comments