Tag Archives: Perryn Leech

The lessons of James Morris’s Wotan for this Canadian

Posted on July 1, 2024 by barczablog

It’s Canada Day. I live in Toronto and am a subscriber to the Canadian Opera Company. I was remembering examples I’ve seen south of the border at the Metropolitan Opera. Yes they import talent, bringing in Italians to sing Verdi … Continue reading →

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After last performance of Don Pasquale, looking back and ahead plus two anonymous voices

Posted on May 19, 2024 by barczablog

This afternoon we watched the Canadian Opera Company’s closing performance of the Renaud Doucet–André Barbe Don Pasquale at the Four Seasons Centre, bringing their spring season to a boisterous close. The unexpected adjective I’d apply to the colourful production is … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Excited by Canadian Opera Company 2023-24 season announcement

Posted on February 26, 2023 by barczablog

When I saw the email on Thursday from the Canadian Opera Company announcing their 2023-2024 season it moved me to say this on Facebook: That’s more like it! COC’s 2023-24 season: Fidelio, La Boheme, Cunning Little Vixen, Don Pasquale, Don … Continue reading →

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Best of 2022

Posted on January 9, 2023 by barczablog

I enjoy recalling the best moments of the past 12 months. There’s a fork in the road, however. One pathway leads towards that which is truly “new”, while the other relies on what we’ve seen before. Need I mention, the … Continue reading →

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Good news COC Traviata

Posted on May 8, 2022 by barczablog

When Perryn Leech the Canadian Opera Company general director came out before the performance of La Traviata last night, it was the first time I’d seen him in person, after several messages in the virtual world. He spoke briefly to … Continue reading →

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Russell, Tamara, Johannes and Perryn take us for a test-drive

Posted on October 3, 2021 by barczablog

If asked to identify the two most reliable performers for the Canadian Opera Company over the past decade, you might well come up with the singers chosen to launch the COC’s “season like no other”. I remember Russell Braun’s Chou … Continue reading →

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Question marks about the COC’s winter & spring season

Posted on September 20, 2021 by barczablog

I’ve seen some disgruntled responses in social media to the announcement of the Canadian Opera Company offerings for early 2022. The COC are offering nine performances of Madama Butterfly in February, then seven shows each of La Traviata & Magic … Continue reading →

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Opera season

Posted on August 16, 2021 by barczablog

Rabbit season? Duck season? Nope in a few weeks it will be opera season, and not just in Toronto. Thank goodness we don’t have to hear Elmer Fudd try to say “opera season”. That’s right, they really will be shooting … Continue reading →

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Opera coming out of the pandemic

Posted on July 20, 2021 by barczablog

We weren’t permitted to go to live theatre. Performers have struggled with the loss of income, companies evaluating their business models as they contemplate the future. It remains to be seen just what impacts will be felt upon opera, the … Continue reading →

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