- New York Times (Messiah/Complex, 2020)
Described by critics as an “opera-world wunderkind” (The Globe and Mail), Director Joel Ivany is a distinguished figure in the world of opera, renowned for his visionary direction and transformative productions. Ivany’s journey into the world of opera began with a notable achievement as a finalist and prize winner in the 6th European Opera Directing Prize, where he presented a concept for Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi alongside Canadian designers Camellia Koo and Jason Hand. Since then, he has continued to push the boundaries of the art form, earning accolades and recognition for his outstanding work. This past season, Ivany made his mainstage debut at LA Opera where he directed Verdi’s Otello, starring Russell Thomas and Rachel Willis-Sørensen. Additionally, he directed a new co-production of Don Giovanni for the National Arts Centre and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and returned to the Canadian Opera Company to remount his acclaimed production of Carmen. Ivany currently serves as the Artistic Director for both the Edmonton Opera and the Banff Center for the Arts Opera in the 21st Century program.
As a sought-after stage director, Ivany’s notable productions include Hänsel und Gretel (Canadian Opera Company), Carmen (Canadian Opera Company/Vancouver Opera), Dead Man Walking (Vancouver Opera/Minnesota Opera), Orphée+ (Opera Columbus/Banff Centre/AtG/Edmonton Opera) and Claude Vivier’s Kopernikus (Banff Centre/AtG). Additional directing credits include Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hans Krasá’s Brundibár for the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, Les Contes D'Hoffmann with Edmonton Opera, Macbeth for Minnesota Opera, and the world premiere of Gavin Bryars’ chamber opera Marilyn Forever with the Aventa Ensemble at the Adelaide Festival (Australia).
The founder and former Artistic Director of the innovative Toronto-based company, Against the Grain Theatre (AtG), Ivany has been at the forefront of the indie opera movement. Under his leadership, AtG has revolutionized the opera experience with groundbreaking productions that have pushed artistic boundaries. From setting famed operas like La bohème, The Turn of the Screw, and Pelléas et Mélisande in unconventional settings, to creating contemporary adaptations of classic works like the operas in Mozart’s Da Ponte trilogy and Handel’s Messiah, AtG has earned a reputation for its inventive approach to classical music. In the height of COVID-19, AtG was one of the first opera companies to pivot to online content, with the production of films that include A Little Too Cozy, Savitri, Requiem, BOUND, and Identity: A Song Cycle. In December of 2020, AtG produced the internationally acclaimed film Messiah/Complex in collaboration with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra which went on to win a Digital Excellence in Opera award through Opera America.
In addition to his directing and producing skills, Joel Ivany is a gifted librettist, having written nine original librettos for AtG and other esteemed institutions such as the Canadian Opera Company and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. His librettos have garnered numerous award nominations and wins, highlighting his ability to infuse new life into traditional operatic plots.
Throughout his career, Ivany has collaborated with prestigious companies such as Washington National Opera, The Wexford Festival, Opera Holland Park, Norwegian National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bard Summerscape, and more. His unwavering commitment to the operatic art form has earned his work a multitude of accolades, including numerous Dora Mavor Moore nominations and awards, multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations, and two JUNOS nominations. In addition to being hailed as an Arts Hero of 2020 by The Globe and Mail, he has been the recipient of several scholarships and grants from prestigious organizations such as the Canada Arts Council and The Bras Family Foundation. Ivany is a proud alumnus of Western University, where he holds a music degree and was recently inducted into the Faculty of Music Wall of Fame. Ivany also holds an artist diploma in Opera Directing from the University of Toronto.
