Read the full review from The Georgia Straight
Read the full review from The Vancouver Sun
Quotes from the Faust concert preview and reviews:
“According to the Vancouver Bach Choir’s new conductor Leslie Dala, “Berlioz’ Le damnation de Faust isn’t a concert: it’s an event!” He’s absolutely right.”
“…there are musical reasons aplenty to have put Damnation near the top of Dala’s wish list as something just right for the Bach Choir: A splendid end to his first season…”
“Rarely has the road to hell been described in music so powerful– and so very appealing.”
David Gordon Duke / concert preview in The Vancouver Sun / 2011 April 14
“…a wonderful rendition Saturday night at the Orpheum by the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and a set of splendid soloists with conductor Leslie Dala. The performance of this epic work drew cheers that were long and loud and deserved.”
“The choir sang wonderfully, right down to the mock-serious fugue that follows “The Song of the Rat“, with its demandingly high part for the tenors…”
“…the three soloists— tenor Paul Groves as Faust, bass-baritone John Relyea as Mephistopheles, and Allyson McHardy as Marguerite— were nothing less than sensational. Bass-baritone Giles Tomkins in the minor role of Brander was impressive as well.”
“For this rarely done work (because it’s just too big) almost everything came off, including the Bach Choir’s first use of Surtitles. That made perfect sense: this is a work where you want to know what’s going on.”
Lloyd Dykk / concert review in The Georgia Straight / 2011 April 18
“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.”
David Gordon Duke / concert review in The Vancouver Sun / 2011 April 18