Category Archives: Reviews

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 →

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Dausgaard leads TSO

Posted on April 8, 2017 by barczablog

Judging by the way the Toronto Symphony are responding to their current series of guest conductors, I have to wonder. Are they better than we realize? Perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect so much excitement from a resident music-director. Or then … Continue reading →

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Othon: au revoir à Straub et Huillet

Posted on April 3, 2017 by barczablog

The mystery of Straub and Huillet has not been solved by watching their films.  This afternoon TIFF presented the final screenings of Not Reconciled: The Films of Jean-Marie Straub and Daniéle Huillet. And while the TIFF series may be over … Continue reading →

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TSO’s Beethoven & Stravinsky

Posted on April 2, 2017 by barczablog

There are several different currents flowing through Roy Thomson Hall right now, and each one is inspiring the Toronto Symphony and their audience in different ways. We’re hearing two minute Sesquis: original little jewels to commemorate the Canadian Sesquicentennial. We’re … Continue reading →

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Raiders: Williams & the matter of popularity

Posted on March 30, 2017 by barczablog

The recent fad for films with live accompaniment is shining a light on artistry that has often languished in obscurity.  Oh sure, film music composers are well paid, especially someone like John Williams, composer of the score for Raiders of … Continue reading →

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Kommunisten: Straub sans Huillet

Posted on March 29, 2017 by barczablog

TIFF have been presenting “Not Reconciled”: which is both the epithet attached to this powerful retrospective and the first film from the uncompromising collaborative team Danièle Huillet and her husband Jean-Marie Straub. Tonight we ventured into a very dark, place, … Continue reading →

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