STAGE DIRECTOR/METTEUR EN SCÈNE
DAVID EDWARDS works internationally as a stage director, writer and presenter collaborating with Opera Companies, Symphony Orchestras, Universities and Young Artists’ Training Programmes in the U.K., U.S.A, Japan and Singapore. Currently in 2014 engagements include
Die Zauberflöte for Opéra Bastide in Bordeaux France,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Portland Oregon, La Rondine in Arezzo Italy, Les Contes d’Hoffmann touring the U.K. and Europe and The Merry Widow in Singapore. David is presenting Wagner and the Dream King for the Wagner Society and a programme celebrating the tercentenary
of the birth of Gluck in London. He is also curating a weekend of early 20th century music Après le déluge in Aldeburgh in September as well as the premiere of a new opera by Ed Lambert for the Tête-á-Tête Festival in London.
2013 projects included Artistic Director of Gods & Heroes, a weekend of events featuring Sir John Tomlinson in celebration of Britten, Verdi and Wagner for the Music Club of London, Artistic Director of Inside The Ring, a series of 17 events over three weeks running in tandem with performances of Wagner’s RING cycle by Longborough Festival Opera, a new production of La Traviata for Diva Opera on tour in France, the Channel Islands and the U.K., The Ballad of Lady Barnard and Little Musgrave, an adaptation of Britten’s choral work by folk musician Jon Boden for Snape Proms (and U.K. tour), a new play Dress Rehearsal by Alison Evans at the Distillers’ pub in Hammersmith and Die Walküre Act 3 on Wagner’s 200th anniversary at the RFH London with Sir Andrew Davis and the Philharmonia.
In 2012, David directed Il Prigioniero with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra, Fidelio with the Singapore Symphony (also appearing as narrator), Dialogues des Carmélites at Portland State University (where David was appointed the 2012 Jeannine B. Cowles Distinguished Professor in Residence), Tosca on tour in Europe and Curlew River in a double-bill with the Noh play Sumidagawa presented in the U.K. and Japan by the Tokyo University of the Arts. 2011 included Carmen in Singapore (direction & set design), Il Tabarro/Gianni Schicchi in Tokyo and Rigoletto on tour in Europe . David has also tutored regularly in London at the Royal Academy of Music, Central School of Speech & Drama and at the Motley Theatre Design Course. David is Production Director for the Mastersingers Company for which he has directed, devised and presented a large number of scenes from Wagner operas, associated events and illustrated lectures.
In 2010 David directed new productions of Falstaff in Tokyo and then for Diva Opera in Europe and The Screams of Kitty Genovese for the Tete-a-Tete Festival in London and then at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2008 David staged The Pilgrim’s Progress with Richard Hickox and the Philharmonia at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, La Cenerentola in Memphis, Dido and Aeneas for the Temple Music Festival and Simon Boccanegra in San Francisco. In 2006, David directed an award-winning musical The Screams of Kitty Genovese at the New York Music Theatre Festival. He made his debut in Singapore with a new Le Nozze di Figaro, and returned there in 2007 for Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Die Walküre (Act 1). He also directed Albert Herring at the New National Theatre, Tokyo and La Traviata for Diva Opera touring in Switzerland, France and the U.K. as well as a presentation for Wagner Day at Covent Garden.
The stage director David Edwards was born in London. He graduated in Classics from Cambridge University and was engaged by the Royal Opera Covent Garden as an assistant and then Staff Director. Here David had the opportunity to work with renowned directors such as Götz Friedrich, Richard Jones, Elijah Moshinsky, John Cox, Trevor Nunn and Jonathan Miller. He directed revivals and restagings at Covent Garden including Katya Kabanova, Der Rosenkavalier, Attila and Stiffelio and guest performances in international houses such as La Scala, Milan, Staatsoper Vienna, Bologna, Brussels, Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago. Since leaving Covent Garden in 1997 David has enjoyed a successful career as a freelance director on the international operatic scene. He has directed his own productions, including Simon Boccanegra and Arabella for the San Francisco Opera, Der Fliegender Holländer in San Diego, Die Zauberflöte for the New National Theatre in Tokyo, Dialogues des Carmélites in Portland, Carmen in Philadelphia and Lucrezia Borgia in Minneapolis.