About this Event
LES DALA IN CONCERT
part of VOICES FREE CONCERT SERIES | Supported by TD
Presented by Vancouver Opera
This programme explores works from the 20th century which live in the blurred lines between the genres of classical “art” music and “popular” music in the realms of early jazz and alternative rock.
Philip Glass, one of the most prominent living composers has forged a unique path writing works for the concert stage, operas, ballets, film scores all with his signature ‘minimalist” repetitive structures and unapologetic embrace of tonality.
The UK band, Radiohead, which came to prominence in the mid 1990’s is considered one of the most innovative bands of all time. OK Computer, released in 1997, captured the gloominess and uncertainty of the Y2K days and was a complete departure from their previous album, “The Bends”. American pianist Christopher O’Riley, transcribed over twenty Radiohead songs and released two recordings in 2003 and 2005 which harken back to the 19th century tradition of opera and song transcriptions by virtuoso pianists like Franz Liszt.
George Gershwin, renowned as a composer of popular, jazz and classical music premiered his most famous work, Rhapsody in Blue on February 12, 1924 and it is a perfect example of his unique synthesis of various musical genres.
ABOUT LESLIE DALA
Conductor and pianist, Leslie Dala enjoys a multifaceted career spanning the genres of opera, symphonic music, choral and contemporary works. On the podium, he is known for his passionate, dynamic, and charismatic approach to music making. Named one of the top ten artistic leaders by the Vancouver Sun, Dala is well known nationally with guest conducting appearances with orchestras and opera companies across the country. Internationally, he has performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, China, Taiwan and the US including recently at Carnegie Hall. Currently, he is a member of the music staff at the Santa Fe Opera.
Leslie presently holds the positions of Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Head of Music, Associate Conductor and Chorus Director of Vancouver Opera, and the Music Director Emeritus of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. Recently he conducted Vancouver Opera’s production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, the Canadian premiere of George Benjamin’s Into the Little Hill produced by Astrolabe Musik Theatre, and the world premiere of Frank Horvat’s Memories of Self Isolation with the Vancouver Bach Choir.
Career highlights include conducting the Canadian premiere of John Adams’ Oratorio El Nino, the Canadian premiere of Steve Reich’s You are Variations and Daniel Variations, the world premieres of Brian Current’s River of Light, James Rolfe’s and Morris Panych’s opera The Overcoat, and Neil Weisensel and Shane Koyczan’s opera Stickboy.
As a conductor he has collaborated with such notable artists as Gregory Kunde, Richard Margison, Measha Brueggergosman, Adrianne Pieczonka and Etienne Dupuis. Other highlights include concerts with Sarah McLachlan and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in addition to leading the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with guest artists the Indigo Girls.
As a pianist, Leslie regularly appears in recital and has partnered with singers, including Russel Braun, Krisztina Szabo, Benjamin Butterfield, Rachel Fenlon, and Asitha Tennekoon.
In 2021, Leslie recorded the complete Etudes of Philip Glass which is available on the Redshift label and on all of the major streaming platforms. It was named by CBC Radio as one of the top 21 Classical recordings of 2021. His 2022 recording of Nikolai Korndorf’s The Smile of Maud Lewis also made the CBC list for top 22 Classical recordings in addition to being named one of the Critic’s Choice Favourite Album’s of 2022 by Gramophone Magazine.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Vancouver Opera | Creating extraordinary experiences, 1945 McLean Drive, Vancouver, Canada
CAD 0.00
