Prolific Canadian opera director Michael Cavanagh has been appointed artistic director at the Royal Swedish Opera. He starts his five-year appointment starting next summer, 2021.
“From the very first moment I set foot in that spectacular, historic opera house, I’ve loved working at the Royal Swedish Opera,” said Cavanagh. “I’ve had so many wonderful experiences with the soloists, chorus, music staff, orchestra, crew, company and audience. I am also very much looking forward to have the opportunity to collaborate with the very prominent conductor Alan Gilbert, whom the Royal Swedish Opera has engaged as music director.”
Hailing from Winnipeg, Cavanagh has directed over 150 opera productions at opera companies across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Most notable productions include The Vancouver Opera production of John Adams’ Nixon in China, which he developed to coincide with the 2010 Winter Olympics. He has also worked with Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House in London, Opera Philadelphia, Wide Open Opera in Dublin, Ireland, and L’Opéra de Montréal. No stranger to the Royal Swedish Opera, Cavanagh has served as a guest artist on productions of Nixon in China and Aida.
“I am so pleased to welcome Michael Cavanagh to the Royal Swedish Opera as our next artistic director and my successor,” says CEO Birgitta Svendén. “He has a particularly broad artistic spectrum, he has a great international experience and last but not least, and he is a very accomplished leader.”
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