Tag Archives: Russell Braun

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

Egoyan- Lite

Posted on February 24, 2019 by barczablog

I had another look at the Canadian Opera Company’s Cosi fan tutte tonight, a production that I enjoyed even more this time in its closing performance. Last time I was content to have so much fun & so many laughs, … Continue reading →

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

COC fan tutte

Posted on February 10, 2019 by barczablog

Is it really five years ago? Time flies. In January 2014 Atom Egoyan’s production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte had its premiere with the Canadian Opera Company.  I looked back at what I wrote and –after having seen the revival … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Questions for Bruno Roy

Posted on May 18, 2018 by barczablog

Time flies. It seems like it was only yesterday that baritone Bruno Roy was a finalist in Centre Stage, the 2015 Ensemble Studio competition. The new voice that we had never heard before? He is now about to make his … Continue reading →

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

Ten Questions for Christopher Enns

Posted on January 25, 2013 by barczablog

Born in Manitoba, tenor Christopher Enns is in his final season with the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio. He made his COC debut as an American/Glass Maker/Strolling Player in Death in Venice.   Enns was one of the strengths of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Roméo et Juliette 2008

Posted on November 26, 2012 by barczablog

I watched TFO’s broadcast of a live performance of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, from a 2008 Salzburg production. There was a bit of drama backstage, with Anna Netrebko’s cancellation, replaced by the unknown Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze.  Machaidze was only … Continue reading →

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

September Buzz

Posted on September 13, 2012 by barczablog

In the circles I share in person or online I am thinking about the question of buzz, to which I alluded recently. I’m excited to be going to a brand-new opera tomorrow night, namely Julie Sits Waiting.  It’s hard for … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

From Afar

Posted on February 3, 2012 by barczablog

The love one encounters in Saariaho’s opera Love from Afar is not at all like the love most people think of when they use the word in the 21st century.  And while the work was composed recently employing very modern … Continue reading →

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

L’Amour de loin DVD

Posted on January 4, 2012 by barczablog

As the Canada Opera Company’s February production of Kaija Saariaho’s Love From Afar gets closer my curiosity grows.  I’ve seen several new operas in my time, both the ones that vanished, and the ones that have stayed in the repertoire. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments