Leslie Barcza

BELTing Over the Rainbow BELT Monday night March 9th invited us to “another unforgettable night of communal singing at Crow’s Theatre” to “learn and perform the beloved classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow…

We were BELT-ing Over the Rainbow

#singing #choral

barczablog.com/2026/03/11/b...

Singsational Bach workshop with Jean-Sébastien Vallée I know Jean-Sébastien Vallée as the artistic director of Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, which sometimes means he’s preparing the TMC for their work with another conductor, sometimes he’s th…

Fun workshop with Jean-Sébastien Vallée exploring JS Bach's Passions according to St Matthew, St John and St Mark.

#classical #JSBach #StMatthewPassion

barczablog.com/2026/03/07/s...

Interviewing soprano Sarah Dufresne Reviewers work after the fact, which means that sometimes we only notice stars when the show is over, especially when we are seeing the artist for the first time. So here I am belatedly interviewin…

Excited to interview a brilliant young singer.

#opera #soprano #actor

barczablog.com/2026/03/05/i...

Diapente Presents Time’s Eldest Son Celebrating 400 Years of John Dowland Yes it’s a humongous headline but it’s a perfect description of the concert I witnessed Saturday night at the Heliconian Hall, and the first time I’ve seen a performance by Diapen…

One of the best concerts so far in 2026 from Diapente.

#Dowland #renaissance #quintet

barczablog.com/2026/03/01/d...

Norman Lebrecht vs Yuja Wang using Lebrecht’s own quote against him Here I am posting something that at first glance will look like gossip. Norman Lebrecht thrives on gossip in Slipped Disc but karma seems to be slapping him right in his lumbar region. Speaking of …

Gossip gossip gossip

#classical #criticism #karma

barczablog.com/2026/02/27/n...

A closer look at the COC’s zany Barber of Seville Your tickets to the opera really are a case of “location location location”. When I saw the Canadian Opera Company’s Barber of Seville two weeks ago seated in the middle of the do…

Another look at the Canadian Opera Company's Barber of Seville, and thoughts about next season.

#opera #rossini #Barber #theatre

barczablog.com/2026/02/22/a...

TSO are back for Gimeno’s Mahler 9 proposition I’ve had a wonderful experience tonight at Roy Thomson Hall watching and listening to Gustavo Gimeno leading the Toronto Symphony in Mahler’s 9th Symphony. Gustavo Gimeno leading the To…

Review of a brilliant concert by the Toronto Symphony.

#classical #TSO #Mahler

barczablog.com/2026/02/20/t...

A last Rigoletto on the cusp of a regime change For Valentine’s Day 2026 this subscriber attended the Canadian Opera Company’s last performance of Rigoletto in their winter season at the Four Seasons Centre, in Christopher Alden&#821…

Talking about a performance and the Canadian Opera Company's recent choices, as they get a new boss.

#opera #review #rigoletto

barczablog.com/2026/02/15/a...

Three Romantic Violin Sonatas from Duo Concertante Add Nancy Dahn’s violin to the pianism of Timothy Steeves and you get Duo Concertante. I’m a fan who enjoyed their previous outings playing Beethoven and the edgier pieces on their Ecol…

My review of a beautiful recording from Duo Concertante

#classical #violin #chamberMusic #romantic

barczablog.com/2026/02/12/t...

A last visit for Alexander Shelley with the NACO Saturday night the National Arts Centre Orchestra played their annual Toronto concert to an enthusiastic Roy Thomson Hall audience. As 2025-26 is the final season as music director for Alexander Sh…

My review of the National Arts Centre Orchestra's concert, their last visit with Alexander Shelley as Music Director

#classical #Beethoven #Morlock

barczablog.com/2026/02/08/a...

Jonathan Stuchbery: Diapente’s concert Time’s Eldest Son on the 400th Anniversary of John Dowland’s passing On February 20th, 1626 English lutenist and composer John Dowland died in London, leaving behind a legacy that brought him fame across Europe, and left him as one of the most recognizable names in …

Jonathan Stuchbery discusses concert for the 400th anniversary of John Dowland's death.

#renaissance #Elizabethan #lute #Dowland

barczablog.com/2026/02/07/j...

COC Barber in 2026 At first glance the two operas being presented by the Canadian Opera Company represent a contrasting pair. Last week I reviewed the dark Christopher Alden Rigoletto, being offered in a revival with…

Review of the Canadian Opera Company production of Barber of Seville.

#classical #opera #belcanto #comedy

barczablog.com/2026/02/07/c...