Category Archives: Reviews

Christopher Cameron: Dr Bartolo’s Umbrella

Posted on June 3, 2017 by barczablog

This one is different. I’ve encountered memoirs written by artists I’ve respected from afar often created with the help of a ghost-writer. But Chris Cameron’s Dr Bartolo’s Umbrella and Other Tales from my Surprising Operatic Life, perhaps a bit like Chris … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

TSO: back in Toronto, eh?

Posted on May 28, 2017 by barczablog

After an exciting tour to Israel and Europe, the Toronto Symphony are back in Canada. “Back in Toronto eh” could just as easily be “back in Toronto A” given what we heard tonight, a program consisting of a pair of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

Bad Jews: laughter and tears

Posted on May 27, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight I was held captive by the eruptions of emotion in Joshua Harmon’s 2012 comedy Bad Jews, receiving its Canadian premiere production at the Small World Music Centre, in the Koffler Centre for the Arts, directed by Michèle Lonsdale-Smith. Yes … Continue reading →

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

Oksana G review

Posted on May 25, 2017 by barczablog

Tonight was the world premiere of Tapestry Opera’s Oksana G¸ a new full-length opera with music by Aaron Gervais and libretto by Colleen Murphy, stage direction by Tom Diamond and music direction by Jordan de Souza. As an event promoted … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

Time stands still in Carsen’s middle ground

Posted on May 15, 2017 by barczablog

Every now and then the stars align for something extraordinary.  Yesterday’s final high-definition broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera brought us something unique, with the help of Robert Carsen’s production of Der Rosenkavalier. Carsen has found a niche for himself in … Continue reading →

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

Cavalli’s Elena from Toronto Consort

Posted on May 13, 2017 by barczablog

Francesco Cavalli’s Elena received its Canadian premiere tonight at the Jeanne Lamon Hall in a partially staged performance that was still more than enough to charm the audience in attendance. As my companion observed it was a nerdy bunch, ready … Continue reading →

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

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 →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment