Tag Archives: Hermione Lee

Karel Ančerl of the Toronto Symphony

Posted on May 17, 2021 by barczablog

While reading Hermione Lee’s account of Tom Stoppard’s childhood in Czechoslovakia I was reminded of Karel Ančerl, the Toronto Symphony’s conductor and music-director roughly fifty years ago. Before Kenneth Stoppard appears on the scene in Darjeeling India, marries Magda Sträussler, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hermione Lee: Tom Stoppard A Life

Posted on May 16, 2021 by barczablog

I’m humbled reading Hermione Lee’s biography of Tom Stoppard. I was exalted by Alex Ross’s colossal Wagnerism study because I’m a typical grandiose Wagnerian, thinking I know something about the topic. Its 784 pages flew by, the book flattering my … Continue reading →

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Young Cassidy, Old Stoppard

Posted on March 28, 2021 by barczablog

Celebrating World Theatre Day in a pandemic that prevents one from going into a theatre might seem to be an oxymoron. Or it might be the best time to really understand what one has lost. Absence and abstinence make the … Continue reading →

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Meditation with dog

Posted on March 15, 2021 by barczablog

My title might be an unconscious imitation of Tom Robbins’ Still-life with Woodpecker. Might? I suddenly felt the need to make a parenthetic google search. Tom Robbins. Is he still alive? And I see that he was born in 1932, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment