Tag Archives: Beethoven

Tafelmusik’s Beethoven: the romance continues

Posted on January 26, 2015 by barczablog

Let’s begin by saying I’m not your typical Tafelmusik fan. Yes I love their work with Opera Atelier under David Fallis & at Messiah time with Ivars Taurins (aka Herr Handel), but I am often frustrated by them. Tafelmusik could … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Beethoven, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | 1 Comment

Richard Wagner: A Life in Music

Posted on June 14, 2014 by barczablog

I just finished Martin Geck’s Richard Wagner: A Life in Music in Stewart Spencer’s 2013 translation. Published only in 2012 as Richard Wagner: Biografie you can judge for yourself how good this book must be, that its translation was pushed … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Edward Johnson Library, Liszt, Mahler, Martin Geck, Nietzsche, Richard Wagner, Schoenberg, Stewart Spenser | Leave a comment

Tafelmusik Beethoven 1 & 2

Posted on September 20, 2013 by barczablog

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra could drop the word “baroque” if they wanted. Tonight I heard more evidence that they can play just about anything. Their program was all Beethoven, namely the first and second symphonies, plus the overture to Creatures of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged Beethoven, Bruno Weil, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra | Leave a comment

Perpetual motion and minimalism

Posted on August 1, 2013 by barczablog

It’s time. Recently I wrote about minimalist music in anticipation of Katia et Marielle Labèque playing Toronto Summer Music’s August 1st concert: The Minimalist Dream House project. While I titled that piece The Geneology (sic) of Minimalism I was not … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged 12th Street Rag, Beethoven, Euday L. Bowman, Fascinating Rhythm, George Gershwin, Katia et Marielle Labèque, King Crimson, minimalism, Minimalist Dream House project, Rimsky-korsakov, Robert Fripp, Schumann | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Books & Literature, Reviews | Tagged Beethoven, Berlioz, Fidelio, Figaro, Harper's Index, Les Troyens, Lewis Lapham, Literature as Opera, Michael Rose, Opera as Drama, The Birth of an Opera, Tristan und Isolde, Wozzeck | Leave a comment

Duo Concertante: Beethoven Violin Sonatas

Posted on April 17, 2013 by barczablog

When one thinks of Beethoven cycles, the mind immediately thinks of symphonies, piano sonatas and string quartets, forms in which we see the complete range of the composer’s voice. The early ones remind us of Beethoven’s influences, such as Mozart … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Beethoven, Duo Concertante, Nancy Dahn, Timothy Steeves, Violin Sonatas | Leave a comment

10 Questions for Rufus Müller

Posted on April 15, 2013 by barczablog

Rufus Müller was acclaimed by The New York Times following a performance in Carnegie Hall as “…easily the best tenor I have heard in a live Messiah.” The British/German tenor is celebrated as the Evangelist in Bach’s Passions, and his … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged Beethoven, Handel, Ivars Taurins, Mark Morris Dance Group, Rufus Müller, Sophie Daneman, Tafelmusik | 4 Comments

Late Mozart 2: caveats

Posted on April 4, 2013 by barczablog

Mozart censored? Operas did sometimes have to clear hurdles in the century of their creation, but actually I was thinking about the censure of a modern audience. And so I continue to ramble about late Mozart, inspired by a happy … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Beethoven, Diane Paulus, La Clemenza di Tito, Magic Flute, Mozart, Stewart Goodyear | Leave a comment

10 Questions for Isabel Bayrakdarian

Posted on February 26, 2013 by barczablog

When I pictured writing a biographical essay about Isabel Bayrakdarian, the phrase that popped into my head –no lie—is exactly the one you find on her official bio on her website. She really did “burst onto the international opera scene”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged Amici Chamber ensemble, Beethoven, Chanson perpétuelle, Chausson, Cinco canciones negras, Dialogues des Carmelites, Francis Poulenc, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Laboratoire Central, Le bal masque, Marilyn Horne, Max Jacob, Montsalvatge, Placido Domingo, Serouj Kradjian | 3 Comments

Apocalypso

Posted on December 21, 2012 by barczablog

What music accompanies the end of the world? I suppose it depends whether you’re cowering or celebrating, sitting, dancing or running for cover. I ask ironically, of course, because the whole Mayan thing is silly. It’s a finite calendar, limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Beethoven, Handel, Prince, REM, Wagner | Leave a comment