Tag Archives: Metropolitan Opera

Brilliantly Problematic Porgy & Bess

Posted on February 2, 2020 by barczablog

Don’t let the headline fool you. When you see that the Metropolitan Opera are producing The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess for the first time in almost thirty years, seemingly selling every ticket to every performance, you might well ask them: … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Met HD Wozzeck

Posted on January 13, 2020 by barczablog

They say it’s a co-production, this new Wozzeck that was broadcast in High Definition this past weekend from the Metropolitan Opera: “A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Salzburg Festival; the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto; and Opera Australia.” The co-pro of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

10 Questions for Stephen Costello

Posted on April 10, 2013 by barczablog

The fast-rising young tenor Stephen Costello has firmly established himself as one of the current generation’s most impressive artists.  He came to national attention in 2007 when, at age 26, he debuted at the Met’s season-opening night and was quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Metropolitan Opera 2013-2014

Posted on February 27, 2013 by barczablog

Depending on your taste, there are good and bad things in Peter Gelb’s announcement of the 2013-2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera. I am most excited by an item that seems to currently be under the radar.  Dmitri Tcherniakov will … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Canadian Pride

Posted on February 24, 2013 by barczablog

It’s the day before the Academy Awards, which means Canadians can indulge in our favourite sport.  No I don’t mean hockey, which is more of an obsession than something you could dismiss as mere fun.  It’s too much of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

10 Questions for Wallis Giunta

Posted on January 26, 2013 by barczablog

Have you seen this smile? That’s Wallis Giunta, who may have caught your eye in the in-flight magazine you’d casually leaf through if you were flying Porter airlines between New York and Toronto: as Giunta herself likely does.  A graduate … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jan 1st Troyens

Posted on January 4, 2013 by barczablog

Francesca Zambello’s production of Berlioz’s Les Troyens has returned to the Metropolitan Opera.  When it premiered a decade ago it was Deborah Voigt as Cassandra, Ben Heppner as Aeneas and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson as Dido, conducted by James Levine. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trojans: three or is it four?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by barczablog

To my knowledge there are three versions of Hector Berlioz’s epic Les Troyens on DVD. I obtained the first when it came out as a VHS tape.  It’s now available re-mastered, capturing several remarkable performances from 1983, the Metropolitan Opera … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quilico’s Rigoletto

Posted on November 24, 2012 by barczablog

Some artists have an abundant recorded legacy, while others are curiously under-represented.  At times I find this irritating, because I suspect it’s more a reflection of market forces than an indication of real quality. I believe if Louis Quilico had … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Rheingold in person

Posted on May 6, 2012 by barczablog

While there’s still a controversy about Robert Lepage’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Metropolitan Opera because some people don’t like it, it seems to be a success. I was at the Das Rheingold that opened the third cycle, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment