Vancouver Opera Offstage | Weekly Wednesdays
Vancouver Opera Offstage is an audio podcast with host Les Dala, VO’s chorus director and associate conductor. Join Les every Wednesday for this weekly 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.
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Coming soon: Pandora, TuneIn + Alexa, and iHeartRadio.
Latest Episode
Check back here for the most current episode, posted below, and continue the discussion on social media with our hashtag #VOffstage.
4 | May 20, 2020 | Episode 4 | Sharing stories from legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst
Episode Summary & Bonus Features
In this episode Les takes a stroll down memory lane with legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst. Judi has an association with Vancouver Opera dating back to the 1960s, when she was a member of the first training program for young singers. Since that time she has had a prestigious international career with appearances at some of the most important opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and San Francisco Opera. Judi most recently appeared as Mrs. DeRocher in 2017’s Dead Man Walking. We are treated to Judi’s stories of performing with Opera greats such as Joan Sutherland, hear about her beginnings in British Columbia, and discover Judi’s love for new composition.
Extra Features & Content:
Judi’s Spotify Playlist Picks
| A clip of Judith Forst & Joan Sutherland – Sul suo capo from Gaetano Donizetti’s Anna Bolena – Gaetano Donizetti (1984) 
| A clip of Judith Forst singing Musetta”s Waltz “Quando men vo soletta” from Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme (1979) | A recording of Judi singing Jean Coulthard’s “Six Irish Poems for Maureen” from 1976 | A profile of Judi by Schmopera.com | Les’s Spotify Pick of the Week
Photo by Barry Glass
Spotify Playlists & Extra Features
Click the expandable toggle under each episode for special features to enhance your weekly podcast’s experience, including custom Vancouver Opera Offstage Spotify playlists from our guests and the “Pick of the Week” – albums and content recommended by Les for your listening pleasure.
Past Episodes of Vancouver Opera Offstage
Series Overview:
Check back here for previous episodes posted below:
1 | April 29, 2020 | Episode 1 | An Interview with Tom Wright
Episode Summary & Bonus Features
April 29, 2020| Episode 1 | An Interview with Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera
In our first podcast, Les chats with Tom Wright, Vancouver Opera’s newly appointed general director. Tom previously held the position of director of artistic planning at VO for 13 seasons. Les and Tom discuss leadership during a pandemic and his vision for the future of Vancouver Opera.
Extra Features & Content:
Tom’s Spotify Playlist Picks
| Vancouver Sun article | Les’s Youtube Recording Pick of the Week 
2 | May 6, 2020 | Episode 2 | Catching up with Jonathan Darlington
Episode Summary & Bonus Features
May 6, 2020 | Episode 2 | Catching Up with Jonathan Darlington, Music Director Emeritus of Vancouver Opera
In this episode, Les chats with Vancouver Opera Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington. We explore Jonathan’s musical journey and how he got involved in the world of opera, and Maestro Darlington also shares his thoughts on Mozart, Verdi and Strauss, composers whose operas have figured prominently in his tenure at Vancouver Opera. Plus, we get a peek at what Jonathan is doing to keep busy during this quarantine period.
Extra Features & Content:
Jonathan’s Spotify Playlist Picks
| Les’s Spotify Pick of the Week
3 | May 13, 2020 | Episode 3 | A Chat with Canadian Stage Director Rachel Peake on her process and vision as a director from theatre to opera
Episode Summary & Bonus Features
May 13, 2020| Episode 3 | A Chat with Canadian Stage Director Rachel Peake on her process and vision as a director from theatre to opera
In this episode, Les speaks with Stage Director Rachel Peake, who last directed La Cenerentola for Vancouver Opera in 2019 and is the Associate Artistic Director of the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta. Rachel was also director of 2014’s Stickboy and will return to direct Vancouver Opera’s 60th Anniversary Season production of George Bizet’s masterpiece Carmen. Rachel gives us a fascinating look into her process as a director in both theatre and opera.
Extra Features & Content:
Rachel’s Spotify Playlist Picks
| Clips from Rachel’s La Cenerentola (2019) | Clips from Stickboy (2014), directed by Rachel Peake | Les’s Spotify Pick of the Week
About the host, Les Dala
