The Atlanta Opera today named Israeli stage director Tomer Zvulun its new general manager and artistic director, effective June. 1. Zvulun succeeds general manager Dennis Hanthorn, who left rather abruptly last July.
Zvulun, 37, is considered a rising star in the opera world, having worked at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as well as the opera companies of Buenos Aires, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Seattle, and Wolf Trap, outside Washington, D.C.
At Atlanta Opera he’s directed The Flying Dutchman, The Magic Flute and, in 2011, Lucia di Lammermoor, named one of the year’s top productions by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Zvulun was already booked to direct Tosca, which opens the Atlanta Opera season in October. He’s expected to direct up to two Atlanta Opera productions each season and remain active as a stage director with other companies. He has upcoming engagements with the Met, Wolf Trap, Boston Lyric Opera and Seattle Opera.
“Tomer is one of the most highly respected stage directors today, and we are beyond thrilled to have him commit to the Atlanta Opera,” board chair William Tucker said in a statement. “The Atlanta Opera is poised to enter an exciting new era, and Tomer is the right person to guide us.”
Zvulun was chosen from more than 40 candidates. “We were looking for a transformational leader who shared our core values and strategic vision, and we found him,” search committee chairman Rhys Wilson said in a statement.
The Atlanta Opera concludes its 2012-13 season this weekend and next with Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers at the Cobb Energy Centre. Details, tickets HERE.
