The Artist of the Week is Canadian conductor Leslie Dala. He is conducting Jonathan Dove‘s Flight at Vancouver Opera from February 8th to 16th (tickets and info here).
Leslie is a conductor and pianist whose career spans the genres of opera, symphonic music, choral music and contemporary works. He is music director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the asociate conductor and chorus director of Vancouver Opera, the music director emeritus of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra and a member of the music staff at Santa Fe Opera.
This week, Leslie chats about his musical childhood, what it means to be brave in music and what success looks like. Read on to find out more.
Top 3 favourite composers?
Impossible to pick three, but number 1 is Bach.
Tent or hotel?
Hotel.
What are you afraid of?
Not being prepared.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
What was the first opera you ever saw?
Death in Venice.
What’s your ancestry?
Hungarian.
What’s your favourite non-classical band?
Led Zeppelin.
Where did you go to school?
St. Michael’s Choir School, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia.
Are you happiest in the country or in the city?
City.
What book are you reading at the moment?
Sextet: a play by Morris Panych.
[Editor’s note: Morris Panych is directing Vancouver Opera’s production of Flight. Watch the video below to learn more about the production.]
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Happy hour.
Which TV show did you binge-watch last?
Squid Game.
Do you sing in the shower?
No.
When did you know you wanted to be a conductor?
When I was about 12 years old. I was surrounded by music at St. Michael’s and studying voice, piano, organ and violin. I didn’t know exactly where I would end up, but to me, making music was the greatest thing in the world. (Still is.)
What does it mean to be brave with music?
It means to give it your all and to be willing to take chances.
Are you a perfectionist?
I strive to be the best I can be and to create an environment where my colleagues can do their best work.
What’s the most important lesson you learned from childhood?
Never give up.
What does success look like to you?
Doing what you love to do.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LESLIE DALA
VISIT HIS WEBSITE
© Photo courtesy of Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
© Eliana O’Brien
Flight
Vancouver Opera
CONDUCTOR: Leslie Dala
DIRECTOR: Morris Panych
REFUGEE: Cameron Shahbazi
CONTROLLER: Caitlin Wood
BILL: Asitha Tennekoon
TINA: Andriana Chuchman
OLDER WOMAN: Megan Latham
STEWARDESS: Alex Hetherington
STEWARD: Clarence Frazer
MINSKMAN: Neil Craighead
MINSKWOMAN: Stephanie Tritchew
IMMIGRATION OFFICER: Henry Chen
Without official documents, The Refugee has been stuck in an airport for several weeks. In his search for help, he meets a colourful cast of characters who are all in their own way at dramatic in-between points in life. A storm grounds all flights, and as the stalled travellers camp out in the terminal overnight, their stories hilariously intertwine, while the wishes they make on The Refugee’s (allegedly) magic rock bring out their complex and comic humanity.
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Máiri Demings is Opera Canada’s digital content specialist. She’s also a mezzo-soprano who has sung with Tapestry Opera, performs regularly with VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert and Toronto Operetta Theatre, and is one half of duo mezzopiano with pianist Zain Solinski.
