Tag Archives: Holly Chaplin

Holly Chaplin talks about singing, directing and fund-raising with Benevolence Opera Project at the Redwood Theatre

Posted on October 24, 2026 by barczablog

Fast Times in Seville is a new version of Carmen, coming Friday November 13th. Cursed in Mantua adapts Rigoletto the next night, Saturday November 14th. Both shows are fundraisers in support of Benevolence Opera Project (aka “BOP”), a new organization, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged Adam Luther, Alex Beley, Andrew Tees, Benevolence Opera Project, Brahm Goldhamer, Carmen, Carmen on Tap, classical-music, Cursed in Mantua, Fast Times in Seville, Georges Bizet, Giuseppe Verdi, Holly Chaplin, Julie Nesrallah, music, Narmina Afandiyeva, opera, Rigoletto, Ryan Hofman, Ryan Seacrest, The Sopranos, Trevor Chartrand | Leave a comment

Nebula Performances’ Artistic Director and co-founder, pianist Wenwen Du: an interview

Posted on August 8, 2026 by barczablog

It’s been fascinating to discover pianist Wenwen Du, who seems to be making a splash around the world as a collaborative pianist and as the artistic director of Nebula Performances. I found an amazing solo performance that she gave, playing … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Alexander Dobson, Alice Chee, David Walsh, Hannah Ernst, Holly Chaplin, I Pagliacci, Liam Robertson, Lynol Amero, Nebula Performances, Peter Barcza, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Wanshuai Yu, Wenwen Du | Leave a comment

Last Werther to end an era

Posted on May 25, 2026 by barczablog

The matinee of Werther Saturday May 23rd to end the current Canadian Opera Company Spring Season was not without a bit of ceremony. At the end of the curtain call, Music Director Johannes Debus brought out a microphone and began … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Alex Hetherington, Alexander Hajek, Andreas Schager, Canadian, Canadian Opera Company, Christine Goerke, Crow's Theatre, David Ferguson, Douglas Stewart, Ernesto Ramirez, Holly Chaplin, Ian Derrer, Jules Massenet, Krisztina Szabo, Mandle Phil, Mark Rogers, Michael Colvin, Michael Patrick Albano, Paolo Santalucia, Robert Lepage, Robert Pomakov, Russell Thomas, Stefan Vinke, Victoria Karkacheva | 2 Comments

Five composers in two days? If it’s Sunday it must be bel canto romance

Posted on May 19, 2026 by barczablog

I feel like an operatic sausage. I’m stuffed a lot into this post, having jammed too much opera into my head in a brief period of time. Talk about contrast! Saturday was the closing performance of the Lepage Bluebeard-Erwartung double … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Ernesto Ramirez, Gaetano Donizetti, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Holly Chaplin, I capuletti e Montecchi, Joel Ricci, L'elisir d'amore, La boheme, La Traviata, Macbeth, Mamma Mia, Narmina Afandiyeva, Opera by Request, Robert Lepage | 2 Comments

Interviewing Don Giovanni’s women

Posted on May 13, 2026 by barczablog

On May 22nd the new Benevolence Opera Project, who present opera both as entertainment and as a platform for social engagement collaborate with Redwood Theatre to present Don Giovanni in a benefit supporting Redwood Women’s Shelter. I asked Holly Chaplin … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged #metoo, Alexander Hajek, Andrew Tees, Benevolence Opera Project, Brahm Goldhamer, Cameron Mazzei, Don Giovanni, Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Holly Chaplin, James Coole-Stevenson, Kathryn Rose Johnston, Lorenzo Da Ponte, Luke Noftall, Mary Ferrari, music, Redwood Theatre, Redwood Women’s Shelter, Ryan Hofman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Zerlina | Leave a comment

Ernesto Ramirez’s reflections on singing, preparing for his upcoming concert: an interview with a great singer

Posted on May 2, 2026 by barczablog

I am a big fan of Ernesto Ramirez and his beautiful tenor voice. I’ve seen him sing several times. The voice has a memorable sound, indeed the ideal colour for the Italian bel canto repertoire. He is a singer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Beach United Church, bel canto, classical-music, Ernesto Ramirez, Hello Goodbye, Holly Chaplin, music, Narmina Efendiyeva, Ryan Hofman | Leave a comment

Opera Salon Series: Romanticism & Bel Canto

Posted on February 1, 2026 by barczablog

Today I attended a Voicebox: Opera in Concert Opera Salon, highlighting Romanticism & Bel Canto. I want to see any concert or presentation that offers us a new way to offer opera and to find an audience. We’ve seen arias … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Cappellazzo, bel canto, Cassandra Amorim, classical-music, Diana Rockwell, Edward Jackman Centre, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Evan Korbut, Gaetano Donizetti, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giuseppe Verdi, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Henry Ingram, Holly Chaplin, Jules Massenet, Justin Welsh, Michael William Balfe, music, opera, Romanticism, Vincenzo Bellini, Voicebox Opera in Concert | Leave a comment

Another look at Roméo et Juliette as a departure point for reflections on criticism & dramaturgy

Posted on October 19, 2025 by barczablog

This has been a bit of a bewildering week, astonishing contrasts. I repeat my self-fulfilling mantra “I am a lucky guy,” grateful for what I’ve experienced. Wednesday was Opera Atelier’s Magic Flute, Thursday Tapestry Briefs Under Where, Friday was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Essays, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Against the Grain, Amy Lane, Charles Gounod, Colin Ainsworth, criticism, dramaturgy, Eugene Onegin, Hector Berlioz, Holly Chaplin, Kseniia Proshina, Magic Flute, Opera Atelier, Opera Revue, Orfeo ed Euridice, Romeo and Juliet, Tapestry Briefs, testimony | 2 Comments

Over 800 meals from Boheme On Tap for Daily Bread Food Bank

Posted on September 20, 2025 by barczablog

I have a new perspective on Puccini’s opera since attending La Boheme On Tap last night at the Redwood Theatre, although watching Moonstruck last week while interviewing a couple of the participants highlighted the contrast. Yes Mimi lives in poverty, … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Hajek, Andrew Tees, Ann Cooper Gay, Brahm Goldhamer, Daily Bread Food Bank, Dylan Wright, Giacomo Puccini, Guillermo Silva-Marin, Henry Ingram, Holly Chaplin, Joel Ricci, Kathryn Rose Johnston, La boheme, La Boheme On Tap, Moonstruck, Opera Revue, Peter Barcza, Redwood Theatre, Ryan Hofman | Leave a comment

Holly Chaplin and Ryan Hofman talk about their upcoming La Boheme On Tap

Posted on September 12, 2025 by barczablog

La Boheme is being presented at the Redwood Theatre on Friday September19th 8:00 p.m., a co-production with The Redwood Theatre including a silent auction in support of Daily Bread Food Bank. I talked to Holly Chaplin who sings the starring … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged Canadian Opera Company, classical-music, Elmwood Spa, genre, Giacomo Puccini, Holly Chaplin, La boheme, La Boheme On Tap, Massey Hall, Moonstruck, music, National Ballet of Canada, opera, Opera Revue, Puccini, Redwood Theatre, Ryan Hofman, SOLO, Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, theatre, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Leave a comment