Atlanta Opera Appoints Tomer Zvulun as General & Artisic Director

Beginning June 1, 2013, Tomer Zvulun will become the Atlanta Opera's new general and artistic director. At only 37 years old, Zvulun is hailed as a rising star in the opera industry, and has earned consistent praise for his creative vision and work in prestigious opera houses worldwide, including The Metropolitan Opera, and the opera companies of Seattle, Cleveland, Dallas, Cincinnati, Buenos Aires, Wolf Trap and more. Zvulun, an Israeli native, will manage both the artistic and administrative aspects of The Atlanta Opera.

Zvulun is already familiar to Atlanta Opera audiences having previously directed acclaimed productions of The Flying Dutchman, The Magic Flute, and, most recently, Lucia di Lammermoor, which was selected by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of Atlanta's best productions for the 2011 season.

"Tomer is one of the most highly respected stage directors today, and we are beyond thrilled to have him commit to The Atlanta Opera," said William Tucker, board chair of The Atlanta Opera. His passion for producing engaging opera productions is palpable, and our audience has responded positively to his vision each time he has previously directed on our stage. The Atlanta Opera is poised to enter an exciting new era, and Tomer is the right person to guide us. We look forward to introducing Tomer to our current audiences and to working with him to bring opera to audiences who have not yet experienced the power of this art form."

As announced earlier this year, Zvulun is already engaged to direct the Atlanta Opera's season opener, Tosca, which pairs with Faust and The Barber of Seville, for the Opera's 2013-2014 season at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Zvulun is expected to direct up to two Atlanta Opera productions each season. He also will remain active as a stage director with other opera companies, with upcoming engagements at The Metropolitan Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Seattle Opera.

In response to his appointment, Zvulun commented, "Working at The Atlanta Opera has always been a great experience for me, and I am thrilled to join the company in this new capacity. As evidenced by my previous productions in Atlanta, I am deeply committed to touching audiences with dynamic opera productions that present the art form in a fresh perspective. This approach, along with a commitment to engage leading singers and artistic teams in the industry, will increase the artistic quality of The Atlanta Opera, and expose it to new audiences. With the support of the Board and the dedicated staff, I am looking forward to further enhancing the musical and theatrical experience at The Atlanta Opera, and broadening the connection with opera audiences in Atlanta and the region."

Board Treasurer Rhys Wilson chaired the Atlanta Opera's search committee. "With the invaluable help of our search consultant, Margaret Genovese, and tireless dedication by the committee members, we conducted a thoughtful, thorough search process that yielded more than 40 candidates from around the world. We were looking for a transformational leader who shared our core values and strategic vision, and we found him in Tomer Zvulun."

Zvulun succeeds Dennis Hanthorn who resigned in July 2012 to pursue other interests after serving as the Atlanta Opera's general director for eight years.

The Atlanta Opera has one production remaining in its 2012-2013 season. The Atlanta Opera premiere of Gioachino Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers opens at the Cobb Energy Centre on Saturday, April 27, with additional performances on Tuesday, April 30; Friday, May 3; and Sunday, May 5. Tickets can be purchased at atlantaopera.org.

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