Tag Archives: Beethoven

Bernie Sanders and The Samiotics of the Carolina Dog

Posted on January 15, 2021 by barczablog

Sam the dog seems to be getting better. Her bloodwork shows that the antibiotics have worked. Her recovery is the main message I wanted to convey for anyone who had been worried by my previous messages. As you probably know, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Music and musicology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dynamic Duo: Hannigan & Storgårds

Posted on September 20, 2019 by barczablog

The Toronto Symphony’s opening concert welcomed the “dynamic duo”, soprano Barbara Hannigan and violinist John Storgårds. Each did some conducting, and each took a turn as a soloist. While it was not a long evening it felt like a lot … Continue reading →

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

Youthful leader inspires TSO

Posted on April 14, 2019 by barczablog

Maybe I’m exaggerating. Kerem Hasan is 27 after all, and we aren’t supposed to be ageist anymore in the 21st century. The conventional wisdom says that an experienced maestro is the ideal leader of an orchestra. But tonight I saw … Continue reading →

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21C – TSO – Goodyear

Posted on January 17, 2019 by barczablog

Tonight the Toronto Symphony joined forces with members of the Glen Gould School to launch the 21C Festival at Koerner Hall. We heard six works including two world premieres to conclude: Terry Riley: “Half-Wolf Dances Mad in Moonlight” (string orchestra) … Continue reading →

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

All –Beethoven Tafelmusik Finale

Posted on May 4, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight’s programme from Tafelmusik was the first of their season-ending concerts at Koerner Hall. We heard Beethoven’s violin concerto & the Pastorale symphony. Thinking about moustaches & tears earlier this week, it felt serendipitous to be studying the same sort … Continue reading →

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

Cry for me

Posted on May 2, 2018 by barczablog

Some actions are startlingly ambiguous.  Right now for example I’m not shaving my upper lip. Am I growing a moustache –which would be an action—or am I simply not shaving my upper lip? I had that thought, thinking about a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Toronto Symphony and the music of change

Posted on February 28, 2016 by barczablog

I will eventually talk about the music performed at tonight’s Toronto Symphony Concert at Roy Thomson Hall but I must first observe a few things that were different. At intermission I met two guys from Richmond Hill named Michael. Yes, … Continue reading →

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Tafelmusik: Season Launch 16/17

Posted on January 27, 2016 by barczablog

Tis the season. At a time of year when it can be so cold that one prefers to dream of next year (even if it’s been unseasonably warm to begin 2016), the major classical music organizations make their big announcements. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Orpheus in the underworld: Lisiecki’s romance

Posted on January 9, 2016 by barczablog

From the headline you might never guess that this is an analysis of musical performance.  Friday I had my second listen to Jan Lisiecki playing Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto with the Toronto Symphony conducted by Peter Oundjian. Listening to JL and … Continue reading →

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

Questions for Brahm Goldhamer: playing Schubert

Posted on January 2, 2016 by barczablog

I know Brahm Goldhamer as a collaborative pianist of exceptional sensitivity. Of all the Toronto pianists I’ve heard in the concert-opera mode—where piano must stand in for all the instruments of the orchestra—his performance in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments