Tag Archives: Russell Braun

Irresistible Traviata from Canadian Opera Company learning the lessons of Avis.

Posted on September 28, 2026 by barczablog

I feel fortunate that I had the privilege of seeing Verdi’s La Traviata today through the eyes of someone discovering the work for the first time, the Canadian Opera Company matinee at the Four Seasons Centre. When I arrived Erika … Continue reading →

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

Mendelssohn Choir — Brahms German Requiem

Posted on November 9, 2025 by barczablog

Friday night Toronto Mendelssohn Choir & Musicians of Kitchener – Waterloo Symphony presented Brahms German Requiem in a sold out Koerner Hall to rapturous applause. I had been initially concerned that this massive work employing a big choir & orchestra … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Magic Flute revival

Posted on May 12, 2022 by barczablog

This is the third time in roughly a decade for the Canadian Opera Company to offer the Diane Paulus Magic Flute, with its meta-theatrical approach employing flamboyant visuals, from set and costume designer Myung Hee Cho. I hope I can … Continue reading →

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

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 →

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A season like no other: templates

Posted on September 24, 2021 by barczablog

Before the Canadian Opera Company begin their virtual season this fall, it’s worth looking at what the other big companies have been doing. The COC are promoting “A Season Like No Other” in this unique time when everyone is living … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nixon in China, 2021

Posted on July 4, 2021 by barczablog

The Metropolitan Opera feed of free streaming performances celebrate American composers the week of July 4th Independence Day. I was especially excited to get another look at John Adams’s Nixon in China, that we saw both via a production by … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#COCgingerbread: Joel Ivany softens a Grimm tale of cruelty

Posted on February 9, 2020 by barczablog

It’s called “Hansel and Gretel”, not “kill the witch”. And in the original the witch isn’t even the nastiest character. You may already know that the new Canadian Opera Company production of Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel modernizes the setting to … Continue reading →

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

Make-believe Hansel and Gretel

Posted on February 7, 2020 by barczablog

Oh to be a child again. I saw the opening night of the Canadian Opera Company’s new Hansel and Gretel tonight before a delighted sell-out crowd at the Four Seasons Centre. While there were children present both in the show … Continue reading →

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

Parenthood, poverty, Hansel & Gretel: a conversation with Joel Ivany

Posted on January 26, 2020 by barczablog

In a few days Joel Ivany, Artistic Director of Against the Grain Theatre, will be premiering his new Hansel and Gretel at the Four Seasons Centre, in a Canadian Opera Company production. Singled out for last year’s Against the Grain … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

TSO Messiah via Mozart

Posted on December 21, 2019 by barczablog

Tonight I heard something different from the Toronto Symphony. The TSO’s annual Messiah in Roy Thomson Hall with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir may seem like a ritual, but it actually varies from year to year. Every time we get different … Continue reading →

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