Tag Archives: Claude Debussy

Debussy and the writers

Posted on August 19, 2012 by barczablog

Every now and then life gives us a glimpse of hidden meanings.  Maybe it’s all in our head, but even so one can’t help wondering.  Coincidences can seem like more than mere chance. In the 1990s I spent a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Debussy Sesqui

Posted on August 16, 2012 by barczablog

“Sesquicentennial” –a word we don’t hear too often –means 150th anniversary. On August 22nd 1862, Claude-Achille Debussy came into the world.  In response I’m going to post a few times over the next week in my own personal sesquicentennial commemoration.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Enigmatic Liszt

Posted on February 18, 2012 by barczablog

There’s more to Franz Liszt than most people realize.  If you ask a musicologist they’ll usually rattle off a series of truisms: one of the first great virtuosi for the piano, possibly the greatest pianist in history Wagner’s father-in-law Long-lived … Continue reading →

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

Thank you, Rob Ford

Posted on January 14, 2012 by barczablog

I learned about gratitude in Martin Seligman’s book Authentic Happiness.  Dr. Seligman is a key figure in a new kind of psychology, called “Positive Psychology”, positive because it’s oriented not on disorders and dysfunctions, but on happiness.  I am not … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Descent of Psycho

Posted on January 11, 2012 by barczablog

I don’t know very much about Charles Darwin, but have always been fascinated by the profound reverberations set off in my head by the title The Descent of Man.  I am not a naturalist.  I understood that Darwin meant “descent” … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Essays, Opera | 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

10 Questions for Christopher Mokrzewski

Posted on November 29, 2011 by barczablog

Canadian pianist Christopher (“Topher”) Mokrzewski is a former member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, participant in the preparation for COC’s recent Rigoletto and Opera Atelier’s 2011 La clemenza di Tito. But he’s also an accomplished soloist & chamber … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Tree of Life

Posted on October 19, 2011 by barczablog

At one point during class this week,we started to discuss The Tree of Life.  I asked if anyone else had seen it.  Yes, one person said, and they were not impressed. I recall last week reading a comment online from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Essays | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Louÿs the poet

Posted on September 10, 2011 by barczablog

I am following up yesterday’s post on Aphrodite and Mary Garden because of something I found via Google books.  I made an assertion yesterday off the top of my head; upon further reflection i realized i had no idea, but … Continue reading →

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

Fleeting fame

Posted on September 9, 2011 by barczablog

I held a piece of history in my hands. And then after keeping it a few days overdue, I returned it to the library. I am speaking of a score for an opera signed by its composer.  The opera?  Aphrodite, … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments