Category Archives: University life

Thanksszszzz-z-z-z-z

Posted on March 10, 2018 by barczablog

That sound is of course something you hear when you’re not doing it. If you’re asleep you can’t hear snores.  Your snore might wake you up. If you’re living with someone who does snore, and you are hearing this sound? … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion, University life | Leave a comment

Scorched by Mouawad

Posted on March 8, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight I completed my Wajdi Mouawad trilogy.  Last month I saw his production of Abduction from the Seraglio at the Canadian Opera Company twice, last week I saw Denis Villeneuve’s film Incendies, adapted from the play that I saw tonight. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Politics, Reviews, University life | 2 Comments

Questions for Victor Davies: The Ecstasy of Rita Joe

Posted on March 7, 2018 by barczablog

Victor Davies is a Canadian composer whose work I have previously encountered in Toronto productions. His adaptation of Wilde’s comedy (in partnership with librettist Eugene Benson), called Earnest, The Importance of Being came to Toronto Operetta Theatre in 2015 (originally … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Politics, University life | 1 Comment

Incendies, Scorched & the Seraglio

Posted on February 28, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve just seen Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar nominated film adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad’s play Incendies. I’m looking forward to seeing a translation of the play presented here in Toronto next week, titled Scorched. I couldn’t miss the parallels to what we … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Politics, University life | 3 Comments

Vanderdecken among the zombies: Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction

Posted on February 25, 2018 by barczablog

I had a second look & listen to Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction from the Seraglio,  my second time coming in the closing performance of the run with the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre. I wanted to reflect on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, University life | 5 Comments

Memory Lane

Posted on July 29, 2017 by barczablog

I posted a few pictures to Facebook at the opening of SOLT’s all-Canadian program of two operas at the Robert Gill Theatre, one by John Beckwith who turned 90 earlier this year, one by a later generation in the person … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, University life | Leave a comment

Forensic Composition, or when the script is like a CSI

Posted on July 25, 2017 by barczablog

That headline is dead serious and no joke.  I was brought in twice way back in the 1970s as a composer by directors looking with puzzlement at play scripts.  It would happen again later.  These formative projects changed the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Popular music & culture, University life | 1 Comment

Dr Ryhana Dawood’s Martial Smarts: FIGHT LIKE A GIRL

Posted on April 24, 2017 by barczablog

The words on the poster caught my eye. “FIGHT LIKE A GIRL”, all in capitals. When I inquired further I discovered Martial Smarts and then its founder Dr Ryhana Dawood: a strong advocate for women’s health and female empowerment through self-defense. … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Politics, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion, Sports, University life | Leave a comment

Nutty professors

Posted on September 18, 2016 by barczablog

A friend of mine who teaches at a Canadian university asked me to suggest a good text to explain Leitmotifs. I was stopped short, because it’s a tricky subject.  While Wagner’s mature operas are regularly spoken of using the word … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, University life | 2 Comments

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