Representation: World

Before realizing a life long dream of staging operas, Laurence Dale, had gained a considerable international reputation as a lyric tenor, which took him to many of the world’s most important theatres, collaborating with many of the most prestigious conductors and stage directors. With the turn of the century, he decided to turn his attention to that ambition of directing operas. Having created the rôle of Don José in Peter Brook’s famous La Tragédie de Carmen in 1981 at the Bouffes du Nord, Paris, it was to him that Peter Brook turned to re-direct the production for the Opera de Bordeaux and further performances on tour. Immediately afterwards he was invited to direct Lehar’s “Der Zarewitsch” for the Operette Festival, Bad Ischl and Haydn’s “l’Incontro Improvviso” for the Haydn Festival Eisenstadt and EXPO 2000,Hannover. These productions received unanimous praise from the viennese press, which led to Laurence Dale being re-invited at Bad Ischl, now with Salzburg to mount Lehar’s “Land of Smiles”. In2001, he conceived prepared the Off Broadway musical “MUSICA!”, which alas, following the disaster of September the 11th was abandoned. However, his production of Thomas Adès’ “Powder Her Face”, the french premiere at Nantes was as controversial as its subject matter! Opera magazine said « it proved a lot of fun, much more than many of the contemproary creations I have seen recently. » In 2002, he mounted two operas in New York’s Henry Street Opera; “Les Malheurs d’Orphée” by Milhaud and Purcell’s ”Dido and Aeneas“ which played to sold out houses, as did “Land of Smiles” in Salzburg for 34 performances! In 2003 another Lehar operetta was presented in Bad Ischl, “The Count of Luxemburg” also presented at Innsbruck. His work on “L’Opera Seria” (Gassmann) with the Reisopera was a huge success, as was « Les Contes d’Hoffmann » in his own performing edition. It was also received as « historic » or  « the best I have ever attended anywhere » for ‘Opera’ further saying « this glorious production ; opéra fantastique indeed. » Both productions will be revived in 2012. Meanwhile he prepares at the moment the double bill « La Voix Humaine » and « l’Heure Espagnole » for 2010.

During his season as the Artistic Director of l’Opéra Théâtre de Metz he staged Britten’s “Turn of the Screw”, “Powder Her Face” and the “Land of Smiles”, but when for the opening of the season “Les Jeux de Pouvoir”, he mounted the twin productions of Auber’s “Gustave III” (the modern stage premiere) and Verdi’s “Gustavo III” (the French premiere of the original version of “Un Ballo in Maschera”, this thought-provoking project attracted praise from national as well as international commentators. He completed this unique season with Meyerbeer’s “Les Huguenots” for which the last performance was accorded a standing ovation of at least 30 minutes!

For 2 and a half years he was Artistic consultant to Opera Africa in Gauteng and transformed the fortunes of that company with a production of Bellini’s « I Capuleti et i Montecchi » which was named the cultural event of 2006 and the most significant production in the South Africa in the last ten years. Dale the created « Opera Extravaganza »  expressly to showcase new SA talent which he trained and coached. It played to full houses with standing ovations from a cross- section audience…a historic first in Gauteng for opera…as did his production of « Aida » in 2008. By strange circumstances, the performance on the 16th March lost its conductor and with no rehearsals and having never conducted an orchestra before, Laurence Dale entered the pit and conducted the Johannesburg Philharmonic in Aida. It was ecstatically received !

He recently restaged his 2006 Opéra de Monte Carlo production of Ariadne auf Naxos for Liège and staged a new production of Lortzing’s « Zar und Zimmermann » for Innsbruck.

Since 2001 when he was invited to take over from Rostropovich, Laurence Dale has been responsible for the artistic direction of the Evian Festival: Les Escales Musicales. In the 2009 festival he makes his European conducting début with the Sinfonia Varsovia and ensemble Vocal de Lausanne with the Fauré Requiem.