Category Archives: Reviews

Maus in the haus: Art Spiegelman retrospective at AGO

Posted on December 19, 2014 by barczablog

I saw Art Spiegelman interviewed at the media preview for his retrospective at the Art Gallery of Ontario.  I suppose if I were like a typical critic I’d just start talking without a preamble, because (nervous cough) everyone knows his … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Messiah opens

Posted on December 17, 2014 by barczablog

It’s Messiah season in Toronto.  I understand there are other towns that present Handel’s oratorio, but does any city go quite as nuts as Toronto?  Everywhere I turn it’s happening.  I sang a bit at my church, a friend conducted … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 1 Comment

2014 CD and DVD reviews

Posted on December 16, 2014 by barczablog

I am way behind in reviewing the CDs & DVDs i have been receiving in the mail, or the ones i have been buying.  This little summary may be too late for Christmas shopping although there are also the gifts we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Saying #Uncle: more on AtG’s latest

Posted on December 13, 2014 by barczablog

I barely scratched the surface in my review of Against the Grain’s #UncleJohn from late Thursday night.  With one prominent exception I barely mentioned anyone.  I am cocooning Saturday because of the cold that burst in on me like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

#UncleJohn, or COC lite: a new way to do business

Posted on December 12, 2014 by barczablog

Against the Grain Theatre premiered #UncleJohn, their new adaptation of Don Giovanni tonight at The Black Box Theatre at the Great Hall on Queen St West after workshops out west at the Banff Centre. As much as anything this was … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 4 Comments

A fit of Christmas musick against Christmas music: Toronto Consort’s The Little Barley-Corne

Posted on November 23, 2014 by barczablog

Come for the rant, stay for the review. If you’re like me, you’re conflicted about Advent, a period before Christmas. While the season of Advent isn’t quite here yet (meaning the four Sundays before Christmas, ergo, Sundays Nov 30 + … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged | 2 Comments

Beethoven, Nielsen and Mozart: TSO & Jan Lisiecki

Posted on November 23, 2014 by barczablog

Tonight was the last of the mini-festival of three programs / five concerts from the Toronto Symphony ostensibly featuring the music of Carl Nielsen & two of his big influences, namely Mozart & Beethoven. It’s as though there were two … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Leave a comment

Maghan McPhee: Portrait

Posted on November 22, 2014 by barczablog

I missed seeing Carmen on Tap last summer, a version of Bizet’s masterpiece seen around the province (including Toronto) last summer. If I’d known that Maghan McPhee was in the show I would have made more of an effort to … Continue reading →

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

Tapestry Briefs: Booster Shots

Posted on November 16, 2014 by barczablog

I took in Tapestry Opera’s latest experimental workshop “Tapestry Briefs: Booster Shots”. The title plays on a few influences: Because Tapestry lives in the so-called “Distillery District” we’re in a realm of booze, so it makes sense to be thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 2 Comments

Ambitious Extensions of Us

Posted on November 14, 2014 by barczablog

This is one of those crazy weeks when it’s difficult to know what to see. I’m missing the opening concerts of Jan Lisiecki’s mini-festival with the Toronto Symphony, a gala concert from Aprile Millo and the opening of Tapestry Briefs: … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 2 Comments