iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This is news I was not expecting at all - David Sylvian’s first new solo album in 15 years. www.davidsylvian.com/the_distance...

davidsylvian.com

Product — David Sylvian

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Saw a very powerful Death of a Salesman at the Stratford Festival yesterday.

Photo of cover of programme booklet for the Stratford Festival’s production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Yesterday’s show at the Stratford Festival. Somewhat uneven production but I enjoyed the performances, especially understudy Ben Carlson subbing for Geraint Wyn Davies as Prospero.

Photo of cover page of the programme booklet for the Stratford Festival’s production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Saw this delightful production at the Stratford Festival last night - visually gorgeous and extremely funny.

Photo of cover page of programme booklet for the Stratford Festival’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The Bayreuther Festspiele’s AI Ring Cycle is not well received (“this aesthetic disaster, surely the worst in the history of the Festival”) boulezian.blogspot.com/2026/08/bayr...

boulezian.blogspot.com

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Hey Wordle 1,871 2/6 🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Enjoyed this British farce this afternoon at the Shaw Festival, mainly as a display of actor / comedian Peter Fernandes’ abundant talents.

Photo of cover of booklet for the Shaw Festival’s production of One for the Pot by Ray Cooney and Tony Hilton.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Saw this very entertaining show at the Shaw Festival last night - understudy Jade Repeta filled in for Sara Farb in the lead Fanny Brice role, and she was superb.

Photo of cover of programme booklet for the Shaw Festival’s production of Funny Girl.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

In Niagara-on-the-Lake for the Shaw Festival, seeing a Bernard Shaw play

Photo of cover page of programme booklet for the Shaw Festival’s production of Heartbreak House

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Saw the excellent opening night concert of the Toronto Summer Music Festival last night - a pair of semi-staged Marc-Antoine Charpentier operas, performed by William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Saw Bacon’s Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion at the Tate when I was 17 and completely unprepared for it

Francis Bacon’s painting triptych, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Saw a terrific Sullivan Fortner solo concert at Toronto’s Jazz Bistro last night - set ranging from Jelly Roll Morton to Bobby Timmons to Earth, Wind & Fire. Just phenomenal.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Darn. Was very much looking forward to Nancy Palk’s Winnie.

Excerpt from email from Soulpepper Theatre Company’s announcing the cancellation of their production of Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Saw this powerful new opera at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto today.

Photo of cover of programme booklet for 10 Days in a Madhouse, music by Rene Orth and libretto by Hannah Moscovitch.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Very glad to hear the Philip Glass Ensemble last night at Koerner Hall, performing some of Glass’ “greatest hits” from the 70’s and 80’s; encore was “Spaceship” from EotB.

Photo of cover of programme booklet for The Philip Glass Ensemble’s concert at Koerner Hall in Toronto.

Photo of second page of the programme booklet for The Philip Glass Ensemble’s concert at Koerner Hall in Toronto. Pieces listed: Glassworks, Rescue from Satyagraha, Grid from Koyaanisqatsi, Dance 1 from Einstein on the Beach, Funeral from Akhnaten

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

My last Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert of the season last night, an effervescent Mendelssohn Italian Symphony and a vivacious Korngold violin concerto. Very entertaining evening.

Photo of page from Toronto Symphony Orchestra programme booklet listing four works to be performed: a suite from Bernard Herrmann’s music for the film Psycho; Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto; Nostalgie by Bekah Simms; Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Saw this National Ballet of Canada double bill yesterday and was very impressed with Jera Wolfe’s beautiful new work, Kismet, danced to two movements from Ezio Bosso’s post-minimalist Symphony No. 2.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Heard the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at their Maison Symphonique tonight, performing Schumann and Wagner - excellent concert.

Photo of page from Orchestre symphonique de Montréal programme booklet, for a concert of Schumann’s Piano Concerto with Yefim Bronfman soloist, and The Ring Without Words, a suite of music from Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Visiting Montréal - had myself a de rigueur smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s Deli last night, delicious as always

Photo of smoked meat sandwich, pickle, Fleischer’s black cherry soda on counter top at Schwartz’s Deli in Montreal

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Reposted by Paul N Murphy

Sonny Rollins @thesonnyrollins.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the passing of Sonny Rollins. The Saxophone Colossus died this afternoon at his home in Woodstock, NY at the age of 95. 1/2

Photo of Sonny Rollins playing saxophone in 2009 by John Abbott

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Introduce yourself with ten bands you’ve seen live: Blue Rodeo Sloan The Pursuit of Happiness The New Pornographers Metric Broken Social Scene The Weakerthans Nomeansno SNFU Skinny Puppy

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Gripping performance of the Schubert String Quintet at the Jane Mallett Theatre last night. The Penderecki String Quartet also played their namesake’s poignant third Quartet beautifully.

Photo of page from Music Toronto’s programme booklet for the Penderecki String Quartet’s concert on May 21. Works listed include Mozart’s Hoffmeister Quartet, Penderecki’s Quartet No. 3, and Schubert’s String Quintet, with Roman Borys playing the second cello part.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

First time seeing Massenet’s adaptation of Goethe this afternoon at the Four Seasons Centre. Russell Thomas is terrific in the title role.

Screenshot of page from digital programme for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Werther by Jules Massenet.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Exceptional Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert last night featured the incredibly charismatic musician Abel Selaocoe. New work by Jessie Montgomery was compelling.

Photo of page from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s programme booklet listing works by Jessie Montgomery and Richard Wagner.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Loved seeing the Canadian Opera Company’s Bluebeard’s Castle / Erwartung double bill again this afternoon. This Robert Lepage production was one of the first operas I saw when I moved to Toronto in the early 90’s and it made a huge impression on me.

Screenshot from programme booklet for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Bluebeard’s Castle by Béla Bartók and Erwartung by Arnold Schoenberg.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Went to a concert of two of my favourite musicians at Koerner Hall last night and it was very enjoyable. Programme consisted of several Mehldau pieces, along with some Ligeti études and Fauré nocturnes.

Photo of programme booklet page for concert of Brad Mehldau and Kirill Gerstein at Koerner Hall in Toronto.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Saw the matinée performance of this yesterday and it’s just such a great play - Coal Mine and Outside the March really excelled this time.

Photo of cover of programme booklet for Dance Nation by Clare Barron, on stage at Coal Mine Theatre in Toronto.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Saw this touring Broadway show last night - much more interesting than I expected.

Photo of programme booklet for Mirvish production of A Beautiful Noise at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert last night: enjoyed a rarely performed late-period Shostakovich concerto

Photo of page from Toronto Symphony Orchestra programme booklet listing works by Liam Ritz, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Excellent chamber music recital from Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih last night. The Kabalevsky sonata was especially powerful.

Photo of page from Music Toronto programme booklet listing works performed by Steven Isserlis, cello and Connie Shih, piano at the Jane Mallett Theatre in Toronto.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

At Koerner Hall to see a new production of Pelléas. Opera Atelier specializes in Baroque opera - this is their first foray into 20th century repertoire.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Saw this touring musical last night — laughed a lot at the seemingly endless string of jokes and enjoyed the strong lead performances. Good time at the theatre.

Photo of cover of booklet for the Mirvish production of Shucked at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Eagerly reading all the chatter about the Met Opera last night is giving me flashbacks to my last (ever?) visit to the USA

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Heard the Leonkoro Quartet in concert last night, a very fine young group of musicians. The Haydn and Schubert were impeccable and the Henriëtte Bosmans was intriguing.

Photo of programme page for Music Toronto’s concert of the Leonkoro Quartet. Works performed: Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in D, Op. 20, No. 4; Henriëtte Bosman’s String Quartet; Franz Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Quartet.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Saw this double bill at the National Ballet of Canada today. Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern - danced to the first movement of Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs - was extraordinary.

Photo of cover page of programme booklet for the National Ballet of Canada’s production of Flight Pattern by Crystal Piet and Suite en Blanc by Serge Lifar

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Excellent Danish String Quartet concert at Koerner Hall last night.

Photo of page from Koerner Hall’s programme booklet, listing works performed by the Danish String Quartet: Alfred Schnittke’s String Quartet No. 2, Jonny Greenwood’s Suite from There Will Be Blood, and Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

The musicians of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra were in heroic form last night, performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. The fourth movement was just gutting.

Photo of page from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s programme booklet, listing Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Saw the Canadian Opera Company’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia this afternoon and it was lots of fun. Joan Font’s synthetic cubist circus aesthetic was very pleasing to the eye and the singing and orchestra playing was excellent.

Photo of screenshot of programme for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Rossini’s Barber of Seville

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Saw a new Erin Shields play at the Berkeley Street Theatre today and was moved to tears.

Screenshot of cover page of the digital program for Canadian Stage’s production of You, Always by Erin Shields.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Last stop on their North American tour - Budapest Festival Orchestra playing Mahler’s Symphony no. 3 at Koerner Hall in Toronto this evening.

Photo of page from Koerner Hall’s programme booklet - Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducted by Iván Fischer.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Excellent Rigoletto at the Four Seasons Centre yesterday. Third time I’ve seen this Canadian Opera Company production and I think I’ve finally warmed to Christopher Alden’s take on the piece. Helps to have a performer of the calibre of Quinn Kelsey in the lead role.

Screenshot of the Canadian Opera Company’s digital program for Verdi’s Rigoletto

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Enjoyed Víkingur Ólafsson’s concert in the key of E at Koerner Hall this afternoon. Encores were Rameau and Glass.

Programme for Víkingur Ólafsson’s concert in Toronto. Two works by Bach, two by Beethoven, and one by Schubert.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

I saw this musical in 2022 in its pre-Broadway run and enjoyed it. Saw the current sit-down Canadian-cast production at the Royal Alexandra Theatre last night, and was elated - cast is great, Vanessa Sears is amazing.

Cover photo of & Juliet programme booklet

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Intriguing concert of new music last night from Canada’s Gryphon Trio and Norway’s Nordic Voices at the Jane Mallett Theatre in Toronto. Works by Andrew Balfour, Bohdana Frolyak, Norbert Palej, and Jeffrey Ryan.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

I enjoyed seeing this quirky, affecting musical this afternoon.

Photo of programme booklet cover page for Mirvish Theatre’s Toronto production of Kimberley Akimbo

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Saw this local production of a Sondheim classic yesterday. Some reservations about the lack of a proper band and difficulty hearing some of the lyrics, but much respect to Talk is Free Theatre for putting on this complex work.

Screenshot of the front page of the digital program for Company by Stephen Sondheim, presented by Talk is Free Theatre at Toronto’s The Theatre Centre.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Fine Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert this evening. Nice to be reminded of how much I love The Firebird (and Stravinsky in general).

Photo of Toronto Symphony Orchestra programme booklet page listing 3 works: Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Arvo Pärt’s Symphony No. 1, and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Saw this wildly entertaining new play by Michael Healey about Canada’s telecoms dynasty at Crow’s Theatre today. Tom Rooney is truly a national treasure and his solo performance in this is incredible.

Photo of stage set for Crow’s Theatre’s production of Rogers v. Rogers.

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Looks right to me - caught up with some late-period Rivette on Criterion Channel, and a bunch of Lubitsch on TCM last year.

Screenshot of Letterboxd’s Year in Review showing that I watched 60 films in 2026, my Most Watched Actor was Bulle Ogier, and Most Watched Director was Ernst Lubitsch

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Paul N Murphy @paulnoelmurphy.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Superb Les Arts Florissants concert of English Renaissance and Baroque music at Wigmore Hall last evening. Rebecca Leggett and Hugh Cutting sang exceptionally well, particularly in the second half of the concert devoted to arias from Handel’s English operas and oratorios.

Photo of programme for Les Arts Florissants’ concert at Wigmore Hall in London. List of compositions by Purcell, Blow, Locke, Humfrey, Campion, Dowland, and Handel.

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