Tag Archives: gender

Talking to Karina Bray about the first complete recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Songs of Travel by a female artist

Posted on August 28, 2025 by barczablog

Karina Bray is an award-winning mezzo-soprano. Karina’s new recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Songs of Travel most definitely travels somewhere new, given that the song cycle is normally sung by a man. Her new recording is the world premiere of … Continue reading →

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Tanya’s Secret

Posted on August 27, 2022 by barczablog

Tanya’s Secret, a queer-trans Onegin, is a new adaptation of Eugene Onegin by Opéra Queens, that opened tonight at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. Let’s begin by remembering Tchaikovsky’s original: a piece full of beautiful melodies, a few wonderful arias, several … Continue reading →

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Interviewing Mike Fan | 范祖铭 (they) aka Tanya Smania (she): probing Tatyana’s Secret

Posted on August 25, 2022 by barczablog

I’m intrigued by the upcoming production of Tanya’s Secret produced by Opera Queens, an adaptation of Eugene Onegin, a work that seems to invite questions. Mike Fan | 范祖铭 (they) aka Tanya Smania (she) is the artistic director and driving … Continue reading →

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Who’s Afraid of Titus? Sky Gilbert isn’t.

Posted on August 10, 2022 by barczablog

The title Who’s Afraid of Titus? has at least three meanings I can see. 1: Performers who fear that audiences won’t come see an unfamiliar play. 2: Professors (Shakespeare theorists) confused by a play that doesn’t fit the usual template. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Popular music & culture, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Closing matinée for Onegin

Posted on November 4, 2018 by barczablog

This afternoon’s late matinée at 4:30 pm was the final performance for Eugene Onegin in the Canadian Opera Company’s fall season. Weekend audiences can be a bit of a challenge especially in the afternoon. Oh sure, we’re all relaxed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Egoyan 5: reinventing the tone-row

Posted on April 15, 2013 by barczablog

Isn’t that life, in a way: trying to accommodate dissonance –Ann Southam In the realm of disco or heavy metal, we’re told to turn up the volume.  I saw something new, though, on the booklet for Eve Egoyan’s CD 5.  … Continue reading →

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The comedy of competence: several species of drag

Posted on July 29, 2011 by barczablog

Amy Winehouse reminds me of Judy Garland.  They both had big powerful voices, larger than life really.  They were both known for excessive use of make-up and drugs.  Given that Garland and her daughter Liza Minelli have a huge following … Continue reading →

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

Eonnagata in Toronto

Posted on November 19, 2010 by barczablog

The opening image of Eonnagata, the latest production from Ex Machina, Robert Lepage’s company that premiered recently at the Sony Centre, reminded me of a seminal moment of Wagner’s Das Rheingold, the opera that begins the Ring cycle.  We see … Continue reading →

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