Jonathan Darlington

Conductor

Music Director Emeritus – Vancouver Opera

Biography

Jonathan Darlington has held the position of Music Director Emeritus at Vancouver Opera since 2018 after completing a highly successful term of almost 20 years as Music Director. He has led the innovative company in a repertoire ranging from Mozart through Verdi, Puccini and Strauss to Tan Dun and Jake Heggie. Fluent in several languages, he was born and educated in England and now resides in Paris.

Whether on the concert platform or in the opera house, Jonathan Darlington has conducted an impressive list of world-class ensembles. Recent additions include the Vienna Philhamonic at the Staatsoper, the Staatskapelle Dresden at the Semperoper, the Orchestre National de France, the Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Paris Opera Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and L’Orchestre de Paris.

Read more

Reviews

“The added draw, of course, was the chance to see Europe-based music director emeritus Jonathan Darlington (…) Electric voltage seemed to pass through his baton in the rousing orchestral and choral crescendos of the Easter-hymn “Regina Coeli, laetare”. Later he paused dramatically to bring the strings down to extreme quiet at the beginning of the famous “Intermezzo”, gently building them back up with big round arm movements, his stick stabbing downward to bring in the low brass. The orchestra found all the nuance in the lush score.”

Janet Smith

Create A Stir

“Back in the day, Darlington consistently got the best out of his casts and musicians, and we have missed his steady professionalism and inspired musicality. Being able to see exactly how Darlington works his magic upfront was the single best part of the enterprise. Palpable audience enthusiasm lets us hope for more Darlington and more opera-in-concert in the VO’s future plans.”

David Gordon Duke

Vancouver Sun

“Darlington conducts both scores with understanding and conviction. He brings lots of energy and a sense of ebb and flow to the second movement of La Mer and there’s admirable vigour to his reading of the third movement.”

Music Web International

“British conductor Jonathan Darlington is widely acclaimed for his powerful performances both in the opera house and the concert hall.”

Vancouver Sun