PODCAST | Vancouver Opera Offstage
Monthly Wednesdays
Vancouver Opera Offstage is an audio podcast with host Les Dala, VO’s chorus director and associate conductor. Join Les once a month for this podcast as he chats with opera experts, artists, Vancouver Opera staff and others to explore the world of opera on and off the stage. This podcast offers an insider’s glimpse into the artistry, experiences, and perspectives of the talent involved in taking breathtaking opera productions from the page to the stage.
Latest Episode: March 3, 2021.
The next episode will release Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
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Do you have feedback, ideas for future episodes, or suggestions for guests you’d like to see on the podcast? Contact us by email at online@vancouveropera.ca.
New episodes are posted every other week on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter; so continue the discussion on social media with our hashtag #VOffstage!
Latest Episode
March 3, 2021 | Episode 25
The Music Shop Pre-Show Podcast with Composer & Librettist Richard Wargo
This very special 25th episode of Vancouver Opera Offstage is also the official Pre-Show Talk for Vancouver Opera’s The Music Shop, which premieres online Saturday, March 13. We’re delighted to welcome Richard Wargo, composer of The Music Shop to talk about his creative inspirations for the opera and to share some tips for aspiring composers. Richard joins us from his home in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Richard Wargo
Episode teaser video:
Extra Features & Content:
Richard’s Spotify Listening Favorites:
Les’ Pick of the Week:
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Past Episodes of Vancouver Opera Offstage
Previous episodes:
Tapestry Opera’s Michael Hidetoshi Mori and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman of Amplified Opera 
Coaches in Conversation with Kinza Tyrrell and Tina Chang 
Matthew White of Early Music Vancouver 
Soprano and pianist Rachel Fenlon 
Lyric soprano Simone Osborne 
Bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch 
Legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst 
Stage Director Rachel Peake 
Jonathan Darlington, Music Director Emeritus of Vancouver Opera 
Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera
- Episode 1 | April 29, 2020 | An Interview with Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera
- Episode 2 | May 6, 2020 | Catching up with Jonathan Darlington, Music Director Emeritus of Vancouver Opera
- Episode 3 | May 13, 2020 | A Chat with Canadian Stage Director Rachel Peake on her process and vision as a director from theatre to opera
- Episode 4 | May 20, 2020 | Sharing stories from legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst
- Episode 5 | May 27, 2020 | Perspectives on performance with Canadian bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch
- Episode 6 | June 3, 2020 | In the Spotlight with Vancouver-born lyric soprano Simone Osborne
- Episode 7 | June 10, 2020 | Breaking barriers in the digital world with Victoria’s own Rachel Fenlon
- Episode 8 | June 17, 2020 | From Countertenor to Executive Director: Matthew White of Early Music Vancouver
- Episode 9 | June 24, 2020 | Coaches in Conversation: Demystifying the role of the répétiteur with Kinza Tyrrell and Tina Chang
- Episode 10 | July 1, 2020 | Canadian Visions with Tapestry Opera’s Michael Hidetoshi Mori and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman of Amplified Opera
Stage Managers Theresa Tsang & Marijka Asbeek Brusse 
Former General Director. Jim (James) Wright 
Mezzo-Soprano Mireille Lebel of La Voix humaine 
Tenor, Baritone, and UBC Professor J. Patrick Raftery 
20–21 Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists 
The Kettle Society and the Can You Hear Me? Project 
Mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó 
Internationally Respected Conductor David Agler 
Teiya Kasahara & Asitha Tennekoon of Amplified Opera 
UBC Opera’s legendary Nancy Hermiston
- Episode 11 | July 15, 2020 | Shaping tomorrow’s voices with UBC Opera’s legendary Nancy Hermiston
- Episode 12 | July 29, 2020 | Imagining the future for opera with Teiya Kasahara & Asitha Tennekoon, co-founders of Amplified Opera
- Episode 13 | August 12, 2020 | Keeping pace with internationally respected conductor and former VO Music Director David Agler
- Episode 14 | August 26, 2020 | Sharing the love of performance with Hungarian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó
- Episode 15 | September 9, 2020 |Transforming adversity to creative inspiration with The Kettle Society and the Can You Hear Me? Project’s Lesley Sutherland, Jerry LaFaery, and Coreen Douglas
- Episode 16 |September 23, 2020 | Introductions from Vancouver Opera’s 2020–2021 Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists
- Episode 17 | October 7, 2020 | Singing with the Greats with Tenor and UBC Voice and Opera Professor J. Patrick Raftery
- Episode 18 | October 21, 2020 | An inspirational journey with mezzo-soprano and star of La Voix humaine, Mirelle Lebel
- Episode 19 | November 4, 2020 | Highlights of two decades with former VO General Director Jim Wright
- Episode 20 | November 18, 2020 | Adventures in Stage Management: Behind the Scenes with Theresa Tsang & Marijka Asbeek Brusse
- Episode 21 | December 2, 2020 | Special Guests from Vancouver Opera’s Amahl and the Night Visitors
- Episode 22 | December 16, 2020 | A Holiday Treat for our Listeners!
- Episode 23 | January 13, 2021 | A Storied Career with Canadian baritone Brett Polegato
- Episode 24 | February 3, 2021 | Bringing it home with Royal Swedish Opera Artistic Director and prolific Canadian Stage Director Michael Cavanagh
- Episode 25 | March 3, 2021 | The Music Shop Pre-Show Podcast with Composer & Librettist Richard Wargo
Series Overview:
About the host, Les Dala
Credits:
Vancouver Opera Offstage Host & Co-Producer:
Leslie Dala
Vancouver Opera Co-Producer & Editor:
Vincent Wong
Vancouver Opera Offstage logo design:
Annie Mack
Season 01 | Episode 25
Episode Recorded:
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Episode interviews are recorded entirely remotely using Zoom and hosted on Buzzsprout.
Cover photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash
Podcast opening and closing music:
“Habanera” from Carmen. Sung by Jenny Lee Mitchell.
Habanera Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons:
By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0