Category Archives: Reviews

The Birth of an Opera

Posted on June 22, 2013 by barczablog

I’m enjoying The Birth of an Opera, a fascinating book by Michael Rose. My jaw dropped at the simplicity of the concept of the work, and now I’m thoroughly hooked by the smoothness of Rose’s execution. Rose combines two very … Continue reading →

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Cats came back

Posted on June 14, 2013 by barczablog

I’m thinking of a dark coloured t-shirt with eyes looking out of a dark background.  It’s in a child’s size, a much-loved shirt commemorating a happy memory excuse the pun of a fun show.  Now?  That child is now a mom, … Continue reading →

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Chopin: Iconosphere of Romanticism

Posted on June 13, 2013 by barczablog

You gotta love the title of the book. It’s actually CHOPIN: Iconosphere of Romanticism, emblazoned simultaneously on the cover in Polish as CHOPIN: iconosfera romantyzmu.  This is an art-book, recording an exhibit from 2010 in Warsaw, edited by Iwona Danielewicz … Continue reading →

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Herbivoracious

Posted on June 10, 2013 by barczablog

The clever turn of phrase “Urban Herbivore” echoes a favourite of yore.  In Belleville more than a decade ago I used to enjoy a place called “Urban Herb” whose vegan lore and hip décor made me always come back for … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Reviews | 1 Comment

Launching Three Davids

Posted on June 9, 2013 by barczablog

Tonight a happy crowd packed Hugh’s Room for the launch of The Three Davids, a CD featuring music by three guys named David: the Davids Frishberg / Shire and Warrack. Onstage we listened to instrumentalists Charlie Gray, Alex Dean, David … Continue reading →

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Bruckner 6 Nézet-Séguin, Orchestre Métropolitain

Posted on June 7, 2013 by barczablog

I’ve been listening to Bruckner’s 6th Symphony, a recent ATMA Classique release by the Orchestre Métropolitain conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Not so long ago YN-M was a youngster seeking to make a name for himself, a relative unknown.  And Now? … Continue reading →

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Figaro’s Honeymoon

Posted on June 3, 2013 by barczablog

It’s summertime, a season when young men’s minds turn to mush, in the presence of humidity and hotness of various kinds.  Of course men have no monopoly on this, but I was just mis-quoting Tennyson.  I’m thinking of this as … Continue reading →

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Altared Figaro

Posted on May 30, 2013 by barczablog

If the dress fits, wear it! Against the Grain’s modern adaptation of The Marriage of Figaro, namely Figaro’s Wedding accomplishes almost everything it set out to do: tell the familiar story in a new way give us all that amazing … Continue reading →

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

Carsen Dialogues

Posted on May 24, 2013 by barczablog

I like to read a director’s notes before seeing a show, because they often contain clues about what you’re going to see. Robert Carsen’s take on Dialogues des Carmelites is a case in point. The production has been mounted all … Continue reading →

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Book of Dialogues

Posted on May 14, 2013 by barczablog

Momento #1 of that production I haven’t yet seen was the DVD.  I reviewed it a few weeks ago, fascinated to see Robert Carsen’s take on Poulenc’s opera Dialogues des Carmelites in its La Scala incarnation from 2004. I stumbled … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | Tagged | 2 Comments