Category Archives: Reviews

Herculean

Posted on January 20, 2012 by barczablog

Tonight’s premiere of Tafelmusik’s semi-staged version of Handel’s Hercules was dramatic in more ways than one. We came to honour Jeanne Lamon, to celebrate her thirty years leading the baroque orchestra.  While it was a commemoration of past achievements in … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

L’Amour de loin DVD

Posted on January 4, 2012 by barczablog

As the Canada Opera Company’s February production of Kaija Saariaho’s Love From Afar gets closer my curiosity grows.  I’ve seen several new operas in my time, both the ones that vanished, and the ones that have stayed in the repertoire. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Super 8

Posted on December 23, 2011 by barczablog

I just saw Super 8, a film with Steven Spielberg’s name on it as producer, written and directed by JJ Abrams.  While Abrams has amassed an impressive resume (as a writer, producer, director or combination thereof for Armageddon, Regarding Henry, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | Leave a comment

Dublin Messiah

Posted on December 18, 2011 by barczablog

The second annual Dublin Messiah presented by Aradia Ensemble was not sold out.  I wish I could comfort Aradia conductor & Artistic Director Kevin Mallon, considering that the competition — Toronto Symphony who are 90 years old, and Tafelmusik more … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bed and Breakfast

Posted on December 18, 2011 by barczablog

While the audience for Puppetmongers’ Bed & Breakfast includes children, the play contains plenty of adult laughs of which the kids are blissfully unaware.  Originally a one-person show written by and for Ann Powell (if it’s accurate to call something … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Messiah

Posted on December 13, 2011 by barczablog

If it’s Advent season–the time immediately preceding Christmas–then it’s time for ballet companies to erase their deficits with the help of Tschaikowsky and The Nutcracker.   It’s time to shop for presents, time to eat drink and be merry. And –in … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boheme Against the Grain again

Posted on December 2, 2011 by barczablog

You can only be shocked that way once. When I attended the opening night of Against the Grain’s La bohème in June, it was thrilling to experience a modern adaptation of this well-worn opera in a downtown Toronto bar, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rusalka in Montréal

Posted on November 21, 2011 by barczablog

I was fortunate to see Rusalka in its final performance November 19th.at Opéra de Montréal, a co-production of Minnesota Opera & Boston Lyric Opera originally directed by Eric Simonson, remounted on this occasion by Bill Murray. The production had at … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chérubin

Posted on November 13, 2011 by barczablog

Essential Opera is a relative newcomer to the Toronto scene.  I watched their presentation of Massenet’s Chérubin tonight, a logical sequel considering that their debut earlier in 2011 (that I missed by the way) was Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. Massenet’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lepage’s Siegfried

Posted on November 6, 2011 by barczablog

I watched the latest instalment of Robert Lepage’s Ring cycle at the Metropolitan Opera in a high definition broadcast. The celebrated machine that is the star of the production continues to amuse and delight.  In the latest episode we see … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments