Category Archives: Reviews

Falstaff’s Communion

Posted on October 10, 2014 by barczablog

I saw the second performance of the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Falstaff tonight, enjoying it even more than the first time. Where my first view was from up in ring 3—ideal to get the big picture but too far … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 5 Comments

Colin Ainsworth, Stephen Ralls and the songs of Derek Holman

Posted on October 7, 2014 by barczablog

Today’s free noon-hour concert at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre was a rarefied affair, offering us a glimpse of some intimate relationships.  Yes a concert is a public event in front of hundreds of people, but that’s only after several stages.  … Continue reading →

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

Kayla Wong – Allure

Posted on October 5, 2014 by barczablog

I’ve been listening to Kayla Wong’s CD Allure incessantly in my car for the past couple of weeks. Wong emailed me to tell me about herself and the recording. I listened to a couple of samples, deciding that yes this … Continue reading →

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

Gerald Finley is Falstaff

Posted on October 4, 2014 by barczablog

Every time Gerald Finley takes on the role of Falstaff it means’ a two hour makeup ordeal .  Finley is like a classier version of Mike Myers’ “Fat Bastard”, and yet so much more. Falstaff? Yes he is Shakespeare’s fat man, a bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Paride ed Elena: birthday celebrations for Gluck & Essential Opera

Posted on September 28, 2014 by barczablog

Ambition is a good thing, especially from an opera company.  There will always be Bohemes and Carmens galore, but I especially love having the opportunity to see something new, as I did tonight in my encounter with Gluck’s Paride ed … Continue reading →

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Oundjian, TSO: Beethoven and Rachmaninoff

Posted on September 26, 2014 by barczablog

It’s been roughly a decade now that Peter Oundjian has been the Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a time of renewal if not rebirth for the ensemble & its audience.  If tonight’s concert is any indication they’re headed … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | 4 Comments

They’re back: Ensemble Studio and COC concerts

Posted on September 24, 2014 by barczablog

The free noon-hour concerts at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre are back, and unfortunately, so’s the flu, as three of the young singers scheduled to sing today had to cancel. It ended up being six rather than nine arias, accompanied by … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Baby Kintyre and some thoughts on popular operas

Posted on September 16, 2014 by barczablog

A few weeks ago, John Gilks shared some thoughts about “that elusive new audience”,  in response to assertions by some that the “ small innovative companies create a significant audience for the larger companies”.  It may be so, although John’s essay looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Two from Menotti: The Telephone and The Medium

Posted on September 13, 2014 by barczablog

Coming home, the gibbous moon in front of me on Gerrard St scared the crap out of me. Oh sure, I know all about this scientific phenomenon, where the moon looks over-sized when close to the horizon, surprising us sometimes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

The Coffee Mill and old Yorkville: multiculturalism & a changing city

Posted on August 30, 2014 by barczablog

When I saw the piece earlier this week in the Toronto Star about the impending closure of The Coffee Mill, I knew I had to go one last time. Tonight four of us went for a last nostalgic whiff, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Food, Health and Nutrition, Popular music & culture, Reviews | 2 Comments