Category Archives: Reviews

What to expect from Ariodante

Posted on October 17, 2016 by barczablog

Part of me is dying to spill the beans about the Canadian Opera Company’s co-production of Ariodante that opened this afternoon in a matinee at Four Seasons Centre, but I have to tread carefully, as I studiously avoid spoilers, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

Radvanovsky’s Norma

Posted on October 16, 2016 by barczablog

This isn’t your usual Norma. It’s an opera that requires talent and skill far above and beyond what’s usual or normal.  Believe the hype about Sondra Radvanovsky, who is singing the lead in Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece, in a cast as … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 5 Comments

Christophe Coin’s Eloquent Cello

Posted on October 8, 2016 by barczablog

An intermission conversation at a concert–Christophe Coin playing “The Eloquent Cello”– made a natural lead-in to Thanksgiving weekend, a reminder of the things I love about Tafelmusik baroque orchestra, for which I should be grateful.   We were discussing things of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 3 Comments

YUGE!

Posted on October 1, 2016 by barczablog

There’s nothing like an election to make you feel helpless, unless it’s an election in a foreign country where you don’t even get to vote. Looking back I’m feeling relief, having  survived Harper & Ford, endured Dubya, and the insults … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Politics, Reviews | Leave a comment

Toronto Symphony flex their muscles

Posted on September 24, 2016 by barczablog

There are weeks when the ensembles in town confuse and confound us with their crossover efforts, doing things we might not expect.  This is supposedly a good thing, when historically informed players with their lovely old instruments venture into a … Continue reading →

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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 →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment