Category Archives: Reviews

Precarity in the alternative space of Other Jesus

Posted on May 12, 2017 by barczablog

Evan Webber’s new play Other Jesus, that has been getting presented nightly at St Matthew’s United Church on St Clair, opens a discursive space that I’ve been contemplating. I’m not entirely sure I’m objective about this, given that I’m projecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Leave a comment

Tafelmusik: now wait for next year

Posted on May 6, 2017 by barczablog

Tafelmusik are finishing their 2016-17 season with a series of concerts this weekend at Koerner Hall: that portend great things for next year. And maybe that’s what they wanted to do, leaving us all hot and bothered in anticipation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

The Return and its promise

Posted on May 5, 2017 by barczablog

Three performances remain of The Return (il ritorno) at the Bluma Appel Theatre, the last of Canadian Stage’s “Spotlight Australia”, a kind of festival that they’ve offered the past few weeks.  The Return, from Circa appears to be the creation of Yaron Lifschitz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

On the road again: TSO prepare to tour

Posted on May 4, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight was the first of two farewell concerts for the Toronto Symphony before a two week tour taking them to Tel Aviv & Jerusalem, and then Prague for a residency that Conductor Peter Oundjian spoke of, to honour Karel Ancerl, … Continue reading →

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MYOpera + Rossini = the perfect marriage

Posted on April 29, 2017 by barczablog

I like an opera with ambition. Tonight I saw a production with style & wit whose chief ambition was to make us laugh: and it succeeded admirably because it was unafraid of sometimes being totally silly. MYOpera launched their 2017 … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment

Opera Atelier: badass Jason vs hot mess Medea

Posted on April 23, 2017 by barczablog

When an opera company remounts a work they’ve done before, one wants to see improvement. Lately every time Opera Atelier revives a piece it comes back better than before. Tonight was the opening of Charpentier’s Médée, promoted as “Medea and … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Hinton’s Riel: protocols for reconciliation

Posted on April 21, 2017 by barczablog

When I look back at my childhood, the way the word “Indian” was used and abused, I can barely recognize where we were and where we’ve come. The past two years have been especially transformative, with the Truth & Reconciliation … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Politics, Reviews | 3 Comments

Boss Baby boffo box-office bodyslams both Beauty and Beast

Posted on April 16, 2017 by barczablog

We’re in a golden age: for parenting and grand-parenting that is. If you’re taking a child to see a film, they’re now so sophisticated that not only will the child like the film but so will you. No one will … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | 1 Comment

JS Bach’s St Mark Passion according to Heighes

Posted on April 15, 2017 by barczablog

In addition to the two well-known passions by JS Bach (the ones based on the gospels according to St Matthew and St John) there’s also the Passion according to St Mark that we know to have been performed at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

TSO Maundy Thursday matinee

Posted on April 14, 2017 by barczablog

Today I had the pleasure of hearing the Toronto Symphony in an afternoon concert, repeating most of last night’s program. The energy is different in the middle of the day especially mid-week. The matinee extends a win-streak of wonderful playing … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment