Tag Archives: Johannes Debus

COC’s Wozzeck, a relatable opera

Posted on April 28, 2025 by barczablog

This spring season of the Canadian Opera Company feels a bit like the second coming of Alexander Neef, their former General Director. Next week we’ll be seeing the revival of Robert Carsen’s Eugene Onegin, a production that Neef brought to … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Alban Berg, Alexander Cappellazzo, Alexander Neef, Alexander Pushkin, Ambur Braid, Canadian Opera Company, Catherine Meyburgh, Eugene Onegin, Greta Goiris, Johannes Debus, Karl Emil Franzos, Kim Gunning, Literaturoper, Luc De Wit, Michael Kupfer-Radecky, Michael Schade, Mikael Kangas, modernist, music, opera, review, Sabine Theunissen, theatre, Urs Schönebaum, William Kentridge, Wozzeck | 13 Comments

A first look at La Reine-Garçon

Posted on February 3, 2025 by barczablog

I attended the Canadian Opera Company’s presentation of La Reine-Garçon, their co-production of a new opera with a libretto by Michel Marc Bouchard and music composed by Julien Bilodeau. Today, February 2nd, is Bouchard’s birthday. In addition to this libretto … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Aline Kutan, Anne-Marie Beaudette, Canadian Opera Company, Johannes Debus, Julien Bilodeau, Kirsten MacKinnon, kulning, La Reine-Garçon, Michel Marc Bouchard, Opéra de Montréal, Owen McCausland, Philippe Sly, Queen Hezumuryango, The Girl King, Wesley Harrison | 2 Comments

Faust Adaptations

Posted on November 4, 2024 by barczablog

Today I saw the closing performance of the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Gounod’s Faust, in a week when it seemed everyone was selling their soul to the devil even without the manifest falsehoods of politicians at election time. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Ariane Cossette, Canadian Opera Company, Centre Stage, Cesare Siepi, Charles Gounod, F W Murnau, Faust, Franz Schubert, Gretchen am Spinnrade, Hector Berlioz, Jerome Hines, Jessica Harper, Johannes Debus, Kyle Ketelsen, La Damnation de Faust, Nabucco, Paul WIlliams, Phantom of the Paradise, Robert Lepage, Szymon Mechlinski, Walpurgisnacht Ballet | Leave a comment

2024 Centre Stage Ensemble Studio Competition

Posted on October 31, 2024 by barczablog

Tonight was the Center Stage competition, seven soloists singing with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra led by Johannes Debus at the Four Seasons Centre. I wasn’t there. I watched the livestream from home, pleasantly surprised by the quality of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Tagged Ariana Maubach, Centre Stage, Cnaadian Opera Company, Emma Hunter, Emma Pennell, Johannes Debus, Olivia LaPointe | 3 Comments

Ambitious COC Faust

Posted on October 14, 2024 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company have a new production of Charles Gounod’s 1859 opera Faust, telling the tale of the old man who sells his soul to the devil for youth and romance. Gounod’s opera is but one of the many … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Alex Hetherington, Amy Lane, Canadian Opera Company, Charles Gounod, Emma Ryott, Faust, Guanqun Yu, Johannes Debus, Jules Barbier, Korin Thomas-Smith, Kyle Ketelsen, Long Long, Megan Latham, Michel Carré, opera, Szymon Mechlinski, theatre | Leave a comment

Scary Don Giovanni at the COC

Posted on February 5, 2024 by barczablog

Well it’s about time! I’ve been watching productions of Mozart’s Don Giovanni all my life that end with some sort of ludicrous & unbelievable encounter between the anti-hero and his fake stone guest, who comes to drag him to hell. … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged Ben Bliss, Canadian Opera Company, Don Giovanni, English National Opera, Es Devlin, Four Seasons Centre, Gordon Bintner, Joel Allison, Johannes Debus, Kasper Holten, Lorenzo Da Ponte, Luke Halls, Mane Galovan, Paolo Bordogna, Perryn Leech, Simone McIntosh, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Leave a comment

Stunning Vixen from Canadian Opera Company

Posted on January 29, 2024 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company are currently presenting Leos Janacek’s opera The Cunning Little Vixen. This flamboyantly theatrical production is among the most colourful things I’ve ever seen on a stage. Vixen is suitable for children and makes a terrific first … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Adam Luther, Alex Halliday, Brechtian, Canadian Children’s Opera Company, Canadian Opera Company, Carolyn Sproule, Christopher Purves, Cunning Little Vixen, Czech Music, Ema Nikolovska, English National Opera, Jamie Manton, Jane Archibald, Johannes Debus, Leos Janacek, Tom Scutt | Leave a comment

A post-truth Fidelio

Posted on September 30, 2023 by barczablog

Last night the Canadian Opera Company had their opening night of Fidelio in a recent San Francisco Opera production directed by Matthew Ozawa, with set and projections designed by Alexander Nichols and costumes by Jessica Jahn. Their design concept is … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Politics, Reviews | Tagged Alexander Nichols, Anna-Sophie Neher, Canadian Opera Company, Clay Hilley, Dimitry Ivashchenko, Fidelio, Four Seasons Centre, Jessica Jahn, Johannes Debus, Johannes Martin Kränzle, Josh Lovell, Ludwig van Beethoven, Matthew Ozawa, Miina-Liisa Värelä, Sava Vemic | Leave a comment

Salome returns to tumultuous welcome

Posted on February 4, 2023 by barczablog

The Canadian Opera Company’s co-production of Richard Strauss’s Salome returned last night in the first of seven performances to huge applause. It’s a star vehicle for Ambur Braid in the title role, a wonderful first outing for Michael Schade as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged Ambur Braid, Atom Egoyan, Canadian Opera Company, Johannes Debus, Karita Mattila, Michael Kupfer-Radecky, Michael Schade, Richard Strauss, Salome | Leave a comment

Another look at Alden’s Dutchman, a first look at Harold Wilson

Posted on October 24, 2022 by barczablog

Today’s matinee was the Canadian Opera Company’s closing performance of The Flying Dutchman, complete with a singer making his debut. The American bass Harold Wilson stepped in for an indisposed Franz-Josef Selig in the role of Daland. When I looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged Canadian Opera Company, Christopher Alden, Franz-Josef Selig, Harold Wilson, Johannes Debus, Marjorie Owens, Metropolitan Opera, Miles Mykkanen, Richard Wagner, The Flying Dutchman | 4 Comments