David Gordon Duke of The Vancouver Sun wrote in his review of The Damnation of Faust— the Bach Choir’s 2011 Season finale concert:
“Programming Damnation as the Vancouver Bach Choir’s season finale demands to be read as a clear statement of intent for new VBC conductor Leslie Dala. And good for him. Saturday’s mammoth production at the Orpheum was a red-letter event… The importance of the conductor as commanding general can’t be overstated: Dala performed with courage and theatrical panache, ending his inaugural year in triumph— and with an implicit promise of further excitement to come.”
Leslie Dala has already made an impression as Maestro of the Vancouver Bach Choir.
Leslie Dala’s appointment as Music Director was announced in December 2009. At the time, Anthony Roper, President of the Vancouver Bach Choir, expressed great pleasure at the appointment and the expectation of many years of stellar music making.
Leslie agreed, “I am thrilled to be chosen as the new Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir. This is one of Canada’s most acclaimed choirs and it is a great honour to succeed Bruce Pullan who has left a remarkable legacy during the course of his tenure. I relish this opportunity and I look forward to the challenges ahead and to working with this wonderful ensemble in exploring the great works for chorus and orchestra”.
Described as “a dynamic young conductor, equally at home with symphonic music, opera and contemporary work”, Leslie Dala is in demand across Canada. He has been Music Director of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra for seven seasons, Chorus Director and Associate Conductor with the Vancouver Opera for five seasons and was recently appointed Principal Conductor of the Vancouver Academy of Music Orchestra.
During his tenure with the Prince George Symphony the orchestra has given many first performances of important works from the 20th Century as well as several premieres of newly commissioned works. As Chorus Director and Associate Conductor of Vancouver Opera, Leslie has assisted with over fifty main stage productions and conducted the company premiere of Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera, and Verdi’s Rigoletto.
Leslie Dala’s experience and interests fit well with the Vancouver Bach Choir, specializing as it does in symphonic choral music. Through its own series of concerts, the choir has become known for presenting the Canadian or British Columbian premieres of many important choral works such as Mahler’s 8th Symphony, Berlioz’ Messe Solennelle, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem and Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio as well as a broad spectrum of music from the symphonic choral repertoire. The choir has also made several successful films for television including Whalesong, the Gemini Award-winning film of its Expo 86 concert, and has toured nationally and internationally, singing from London to Tokyo and from Warsaw and Paris to Toronto and Calgary.