Category Archives: Reviews

Elisa Citterio inspiring Tafelmusik

Posted on September 23, 2016 by barczablog

As I sat in the balcony an allegorical tableau seemed to be enacted before me. To my right sat Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, co-artistic directors of Opera Atelier. To my left sat Topher Mokrzewski and Joel Ivany, the … Continue reading →

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

Kubo, because I promised

Posted on September 18, 2016 by barczablog

I feel very much at cross purposes, having promised I would complain about something in a film that I loved. The film is Kubo and the Two Strings. Let me get the complaint out of the way, as it’s from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | 1 Comment

Ariodante DVD

Posted on August 29, 2016 by barczablog

One of my objectives in my popular operas course (to begin in September at U of T) is to survey the operas being presented by the local companies. In anticipation of the Canadian Opera Company’s fall season production of Handel’s … Continue reading →

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The Coronation of King George II

Posted on July 27, 2016 by barczablog

This was the most fun I’ve had at a concert since the epic minimalist concert (oxymoron?) in August 1st 2013. Then as now I believe we were seeing Toronto Summer Music Artistic Director Douglas McNabney pushing the envelope of what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Popular music & culture, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion, University life | 1 Comment

Jamie Barton in Recital

Posted on July 26, 2016 by barczablog

Toronto Summer Music continued their tradition of featuring a female vocalist.  In 2014 it was Sondra Radvanovsky, while in 2015 it was Karita Mattila.  Each of those two concerts represented a coup, and was a highlight of that year, nevermind of … Continue reading →

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Finding Dory and the symbolists

Posted on July 24, 2016 by barczablog

These days I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by emotions. I’ve had a death in the family (not a tragedy, when someone lives to a ripe old age, but still, it has stirred up a lot of feelings for me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Leave a comment

Lucretia: a messed up kind of story for a messed up time

Posted on July 23, 2016 by barczablog

Sometimes one escapes from the real world in the theatre, diverted from life. And sometimes theatre is such a perfect mirror that it reminds us of the craziness we’re seeing everywhere else. That latter choice –finding the craziness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

Posted on July 19, 2016 by barczablog

I can’t help thinking that composers are sometimes badly appraised in their own century.  I watched a documentary tonight that inspired me yet pained me, because it’s a nagging reminder of the undeserved obscurity enjoyed by Frank Zappa, and of … Continue reading →

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London Calling: Toronto Summer Music Begins

Posted on July 15, 2016 by barczablog

Tonight’s concert kicked off Douglas McNabney’s final season as artistic director of the Toronto Summer Music Festival. “London Calling: Music in Great Britain” is the theme of the festival. Mother Nature even got into the act, offering us a proper … Continue reading →

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A new Jussi Björling recording, 57 years later

Posted on July 2, 2016 by barczablog

The headline isn’t a mistake nor a figure of speech. Swedish tenor Jussi Björling is one of my favourite singers.  As a child, it was his recordings of the great arias and duets that I usually encountered first, often spoiling … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Leave a comment