Category Archives: Reviews

TSO Eruption

Posted on January 29, 2017 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony have taken to giving brief powerful titles to their concerts. Last night it was “Eruption”, taking the name from one of the works being presented.  But for all the primeval force implied by that word, we were … Continue reading →

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Liv Stein

Posted on January 27, 2017 by barczablog

I’ve just come home from opening night of Nino Haratischwili’s play Liv Stein presented by Canadian Stage, directed by Matthew Jocelyn. The first time I see something, a big part of my energy does into distinguishing between what’s exciting in … Continue reading →

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Feminist Flute Opens

Posted on January 20, 2017 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company opened their revival of Diane Paulus’s interpretation of Mozart’s Magic Flute tonight directed for this incarnation by Ashlie Corcoran. Forgive me for a simplistic headline, but if I had to find one word for Paulus’s reading, … Continue reading →

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Mozart Forever Young @261

Posted on January 12, 2017 by barczablog

To hear and see the Toronto Symphony Concert tonight was to be confronted with some ageless questions about age. Mozart, that avatar of youthful brilliance, is indestructible, no matter how he’s played. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear what the … Continue reading →

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Danny and that question

Posted on January 9, 2017 by barczablog

I’m viewing Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, the live show I saw previewed tonight, through the same lens through which I stared at La La Land last night. Yesterday was a big movie house full of people. Tonight was … Continue reading →

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La La Land and the eternal question

Posted on January 8, 2017 by barczablog

La La Land is a musical but different. How? One part of the equation is us, the way we were different in 2016. And I suspect we’ll hear a great deal about how we have become different for 2017. It’s … Continue reading →

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Mysterious Satie: Socrate, Hannigan and de Leeuw

Posted on January 7, 2017 by barczablog

People may think they know you.  They can have expectations of you, and be surprised when you don’t behave in the usual way.  I don’t like being boxed in, stereotyped by old friends who think they know me better than … Continue reading →

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TOT Pirates

Posted on January 1, 2017 by barczablog

I said a festive goodbye to 2016 with the help of the last Pirates of Penzance of the year from Toronto Operetta Theatre (TOT). They’re taking a well-deserved break for the holiday (and Happy New Year to you too), before … Continue reading →

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Fialkowska: Schubert’s Bohemian Rhapsody

Posted on December 30, 2016 by barczablog

This review has had a long gestation. But let me say first, Schubert is not usually understood as any sort of mystery, and maybe that’s a problem. When I open my Schubert impromptus or sonatas, having heard others play these … Continue reading →

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All’s Well in Messiahville

Posted on December 16, 2016 by barczablog

Toronto is known for a few things. We’re a very knowledgeable hockey town, even if that’s often been a special kind of torture. We’re possibly the most genuinely multi-cultural city in the world, embracing all colours of the rainbow, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 3 Comments