Tag Archives: Claude Debussy

Inside the Cabinet Full of Curiosities 2, to be randomly presented by Apocryphonia

Posted on May 29, 2025 by barczablog

June 8th Apocryphonia will present a concert at Heliconian Hall titled “A Cabinet Full of Curiosities 2”. As the program says “an eclectic mix of classical music from around the world performed entirely at random!” Alex Cappellazzo, and his Apocryphonia … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stunning serendipity as John Adams Returns

Posted on November 7, 2024 by barczablog

The concert is titled “John Adams Returns”. Toronto Symphony seemed prescient in welcoming the composer this week to conduct a program including some of his own works. It’s uncanny. By the serendipity of the calendar tonight’s concert had a special … Continue reading →

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

A seriously playful TSO program

Posted on October 5, 2024 by barczablog

The search for fun can be a serious pursuit. Play is the operative word for a Toronto Symphony program titled “Spirited Overtures:” Gioachino Rossini–Overture to The Barber of SevilleIgor Stravinsky–Jeu de cartes (Card Game)–intermission–Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart–Violin Concerto No. 3 in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thinking about Richard Strauss’s death in 1949

Posted on August 29, 2024 by barczablog

On September 8, 1949 composer and conductor Richard Strauss died after a long productive life. I think of him as a romantic composer carrying on the stylistic traditions of Richard Wagner. In Salome and Elektra he was the modernist pushing … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2024 Met Gala – JG Ballard’s Garden of Time tone deaf to the rabble

Posted on May 16, 2024 by barczablog

The 2024 Met Gala fund-raiser used a JG Ballard story for its theme, The Garden of Time. Ballard is one of my favourite writers, especially his short stories and science fiction. Several have made wonderful films. Art and commerce lurk … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Books & Literature, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spaceman is lightyears away from Operaman

Posted on April 24, 2024 by barczablog

After a friend described Spaceman as Adam Sandler’s best film I had to have a look, especially given that nobody I know takes Sandler seriously, and quite a few grimace at the mention of his name. I recently quoted CS … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Adam Klein reflects on the beginning of his operatic career

Posted on January 2, 2024 by barczablog

How do we begin? It’s a good question to ask on January 1st. I am a big fan of tenor Adam Klein. I saw him play Loge in the Robert Lepage production of Das Rheingold, just about the only singer who … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Sappho’s Lyre

Posted on December 9, 2023 by barczablog

Constantine Caravassilis is the composer of From Sappho’s Lyre, a recording from Orchid Classics of original music played by Tallinna Kammerorkester and Tenth Muse Ensemble and vocal soloists, setting poetry by Sappho, Jeffrey Duban and Sara Teasdale, that might make … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Provocative TSO program: a glimpse of Gimeno

Posted on October 5, 2022 by barczablog

It’s fun getting to know the new music director of the Toronto Symphony, Gustavo Gimeno. I’m excited both by the programming and the performances. Assembling concerts involves a curating process, picking & choosing pieces for performance. Forgive me for repeating … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

From the Met: Jocelyn and Dean create a Hamlet

Posted on June 5, 2022 by barczablog

Adapting a play into an opera can be fascinating work, especially when it’s as well-known a play as Hamlet. I’ve seen several attempts to turn this play into something else including a couple of musicals, an opera long ago, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment