Tag Archives: Felix Mendelssohn

Korngold’s other film-score

Posted on March 26, 2024 by barczablog

On April 7th the ARC Ensemble present a concert “The Viennese in Los Angeles”, a happier title than what they might choose to call it, from composers in exile.  In the promotion for the event we’re told that for the … Continue reading →

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Robbie Robertson’s Killers of the Flower Moon

Posted on February 26, 2024 by barczablog

I watched the last hour of Killers of the Flower Moon today. I had heard terrible things about the violence in this film, although the same was true of Taxi Driver, another Martin Scorsese film with a brilliant orchestral score … Continue reading →

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Questions for Colin Eatock at 65

Posted on February 6, 2023 by barczablog

The invitation from Colin Eatock caught my eye: “I’m organizing a concert in Toronto on February 20 (my 65th birthday).The programme will include a new piece by me.Admission is by donation — I hope you can make it!” We’ve seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peter Oundjian warmly welcomed back to TSO

Posted on November 10, 2022 by barczablog

How could it be otherwise? Peter Oundjian, the Toronto Symphony’s Conductor Emeritus, was greeted with a huge ovation when he came out at Roy Thomson Hall to begin tonight’s concert. We brought his wit to the microphone, cleverly mangling Shakespeare … Continue reading →

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Gemma New, Kerson Leong and the TSO: “allez grand ou rentrez chez vous”

Posted on September 30, 2022 by barczablog

Last night I heard the first of the Toronto Symphony’s weekend of romantic works, responding passionately to their guest conductor, the New Zealand-born Gemma New. I noticed her intense display of commitment, yet so respectful of every collaborator in this … Continue reading →

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Thinking of Diefenbaker for Canada Day

Posted on July 1, 2022 by barczablog

A good performance can change how you understand a piece. I stumbled upon a YouTube recording that I keep listening to over and over, a piece I thought I knew. There are two contrasting tenor arias in Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Composers dissing composers

Posted on March 21, 2022 by barczablog

Earlier today I commented on John Gilks’ post about The Lion Heart a new opera by Corey Arnold and Kyle McDonald that received its world premiere in a semi-staged production this past weekend. Near the end of his review John … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Wagner, Mendelssohn, Korngold & beyond with Sam

Posted on December 29, 2020 by barczablog

Sam appears to be feeling a lot better. Last week began with her staggering weakly, doing a scary impersonation of a carcass (lying on her side so forlorn in appearance that a couple of times I was asked to check … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beethoven’s 250th

Posted on November 2, 2020 by barczablog

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December of 1770. I suppose the only people who might care about the precise date would be those of us who want to throw Ludwig a party. In my day one was taught that … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The last three

Posted on July 27, 2020 by barczablog

When we speak of old films we’re usually looking at images of performers who died long ago. Some died young like Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Some had long full lives like Jimmy Stewart or Ginger Rogers. There was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment