Tag Archives: Joel Ivany

Pondering wandering

Posted on April 14, 2019 by barczablog

I like the sound of that headline. As I do what it says, pondering wandering, I am a bit lost in the ambiguities. If we knew where we were going it wouldn’t be wandering, would it. The time of year … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged Byron, Harold in Italy, Hector Berlioz, Joel Ivany, Matjash Mrozewski, Parsifal, Richard Wagner, Robert Lepage, Terence Mallick, Topher Mokrzewski, Tree of Life | Leave a comment

Against the Grain: Vivier’s Kopernikus

Posted on April 6, 2019 by barczablog

Claude Vivier’s Kopernikus has been promoted on social media as “Canada’s most famous unknown opera.” And Joel Ivany is quoted saying “I think this is Canada’s greatest opera ever written.” After seeing what Against the Grain did with Vivier I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Bruno Roy, Claude Vivier, Dion Mazerolle, Joel Ivany, Kopernikus, Topher Mokrzewski | 1 Comment

BOUND v. 2: power struggles

Posted on November 20, 2018 by barczablog

Against the Grain Theatre premiered version two of BOUND at The Great Hall on Queen St W or as Joel Ivany called it “an ongoing process”. I didn’t see version 1, and perhaps this summer or next year there will … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Reviews | Tagged Against the Grain, Alexander Neef, Andrew Haji, David Trudgen, Handel, Joel Ivany, Justin Welsh, Kevin Lau, Martha Burns, mashup, Miriam Khalil, Topher Mokrzewski | 3 Comments

Eagerly anticipating Against the Grain’s Orphée⁺ next week

Posted on April 21, 2018 by barczablog

I’m writing about Against the Grain Theatre right now as I think about their imminent co-production of Gluck’s opera, that they are calling Orphée⁺ (the original press release said “an international co-production between AtG, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and Opera Columbus“, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged aerial, Against the Grain Theatre, burlesque, Canadian Opera Company, erwartung, Gluck, Joel Ivany, Opera Atelier, Opera Columbus, Orphee, Robert Lepage, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Topher Mokrzewski | Leave a comment

Opera as blood sport: the Hutcheons contra Regietheater

Posted on March 5, 2016 by barczablog

I raced at top speed, not from jungle to city but from one end of the U of T campus to the other after work, afraid I’d be late for the (lecture about) opera, somewhat like the hero of Werner … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Opera, University life | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, Dmitri Tcherniakov, Joel Ivany, Linda Hutcheon, Michael Hutcheon, Mozart | Leave a comment

TSO Stage Mozart Requiem

Posted on January 24, 2016 by barczablog

We were all invested with a sense of community. As I sat making notes afterwards, Joseph Johnson’s solo cello kept playing away, as though he didn’t want to go home. I think it’s fair to say that so far Jeff … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Canadian Opera Company, Jeff Melanson, Joel Ivany, Mozart, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Krisztina Szabó

Posted on April 13, 2015 by barczablog

My stereotype of Krisztina Szabó is inaccurate of course. My questions may have made her laugh, even though she’s too polite to send me packing. In cobbling together a few questions –concerning a pair of 20th century compositions—I was far … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, Death and Desire, Harawi, Joel Ivany, Krisztina Szabo, Olivier Messiaen, Robert Lepage | Leave a comment

What does this Requiem do? Ivany meets Mozart

Posted on April 2, 2015 by barczablog

The calendar reminds us of the relationship of our society and religion. This week is one of those times of year when people may make their only annual visit to a church or synagogue, while those who are regular attendees or church … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Joel Ivany, Mozart, Requiem, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | 2 Comments

AtG Pelléas et Mélisande

Posted on June 22, 2014 by barczablog

Against the Grain have done it again. Their outdoor production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is highly original, illuminating the opera is several unforgettable ways. Joel Ivany’s director’s note in the program says “Upon getting to know this opera, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Against the Grain Theatre, Claude Debussy, Etienne Dupuis, Gregory Dahl, Joel Ivany, Pelleas et Melisande | 4 Comments

AtG Messiah: without a net

Posted on December 15, 2013 by barczablog

We were promised something different, and they delivered. Against the Grain Theatre’s Messiah took a familiar piece and added something without disturbing the essential gold. Handel, Isaiah, Revelation (etc) are well served, in a piece entirely true to the name … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | Tagged Geoffrey Sirett, Handel, Isaiah Bell, Jacqueline Woodley, Jennifer Nichols, Joel Ivany, Krisztina Szabo, Messiah | 5 Comments