A mountain hotel, a piano in the lounge, and two lovers who return in disguise with beards worthy of an NFB classic – Mozart has never felt more Canadian. We invited coloratura icon Tracy Dahl to share how a beloved trickster like Despina changes when the artist brings more life to the stage, and why comedy lands best when the ensemble breathes as one.
The stories are wild, but the craft is precise. Tracy takes us inside her infamous Lucia di Lammermoor night in San Francisco – an emergency call, costume chaos, a first step from her son, and a knock on the dressing room door from Joan Sutherland. She breaks down the mad scene’s E-flat, explaining why she chooses to ride the phrase in one breath rather than stop, and what that decision reveals about breath, line, and respecting your own instrument. We also revisit her unscheduled Met debut as Adele, where readiness, language clarity, and a sense of direction – literally – made all the difference.
Between performances, Tracy has helped turn Winnipeg into a vibrant hub for emerging singers. We talk about teaching that stays close to the industry, and then we head back to Così fan tutte in Vancouver: a witty staging set at a grand Canadian hotel, an onstage piano as continuo, local flavor woven through surtitles, and disguises that wink at national folklore. With a cast that feels like family, the rehearsal room becomes a masterclass in timing, listening and trust – the real fuel behind great Mozart ensembles.
All episodes of The Opera Glasses podcast are hosted by the editor of Opera Canada, currently Michael Jones after Elizabeth Bowman hosted seasons 1 and 2. Follow Opera Canada on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Visit OperaCanada.ca for all of your Canadian Opera news and reviews.
